King Charles Cozies up to Trump

King Charles III and senior members of the British royal family are orchestrating a careful diplomatic strategy with newly inaugurated President Donald Trump amid reports that the monarchy plans to leverage Trump’s well-documented fondness for royal pageantry. 

The 76-year-old monarch’s handwritten congratulatory message to Trump arrived on Monday before the inauguration and the royal family appears to be positioning itself to strengthen Anglo-American ties, as British diplomats increasingly view the monarchy as a “priceless and powerful” tool of soft diplomacy. 

Past tensions complicate the diplomatic landscape. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently acknowledged on BBC’s Newscast that a state visit by Trump in 2025 would be a “tall order.” However, he emphasized the importance of maintaining generous relations with American allies. 

This follows earlier criticism from current government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who previously called Trump an “absolute buffoon.” Lammy also had strongly criticized Trump in 2017, describing him as a “neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath” and declaring Trump unwelcome in Britain. 

Sources close to the government indicate that having the king as an “apolitical connection” to the U.S. president is considered a “huge asset” that no other country can match, particularly at a time when political relations may be strained. 

While there are no concrete plans for a UK state visit, options remain open for arranging one later in the year – a strategic move that would capitalize on Trump’s previously expressed admiration for royal ceremonies. During his first term, Trump notably claimed to have “automatic chemistry” with the late Queen Elizabeth II. 

The relationship between King Charles and President Trump has evolved over several years. During Trump’s 2019 state visit to the United Kingdom, then-Prince Charles hosted the Trumps for tea at Clarence House, where they engaged in discussions about climate change despite their differing views on the subject. 

Despite these political tensions, sources indicate Charles and Trump have maintained what insiders describe as a “warm bond” through their previous meetings, even while holding substantial differences of opinion on various issues.

The monarchy’s diplomatic maneuvering was evident in late 2024 when Prince William was dispatched to Paris, France for a carefully arranged meeting with Donald Trump at Notre Dame Cathedral. During their conversation, Trump inquired about the health of William’s wife and father, demonstrating concern about their recent cancer diagnoses. 

The royal family’s strategy appears to extend to future events, with discussions underway about potential royal participation in Washington, D.C.’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations of the U.S. Declaration of Independence in 2026. 

First Lady Melania Trump has previously revealed the formal nature of these relationships, noting in her memoir, “Our friendship with the royal family continues, and we exchange letters with King Charles to this day.” 

British diplomats are reportedly counting on King Charles to become a “key asset” in forging a positive relationship between the UK government and the Trump administration, viewing the monarchy as an essential diplomatic bridge. 

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