Donald Trump jokes his mother used to have a crush on ‘cute’ Charles when he was a young prince as the president rolls out the red carpet for the King and Camilla at the White House

President Trump declared a love letter to the United Kingdom and the British Royal Family as he welcomed the King and Queen in a lavish ceremony at the White House.

He described it as a ‘tremendous privilege’ to host Her Majesty and added that his Scottish Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was a “tremendous privilege”. He spoke of his enduring love and admiration for the monarchy, inspired by his admiration for Queen Elizabeth II and her ‘love for young Prince Charles’.

The President noted that Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, who died in 2000, ‘loved the royal family and the Queen’, and that he found the then-Prince Charles ‘cute’.

“Whenever the Queen was at a ceremony or anything, my mother would be glued to the TV and say, ‘Look, Donald, look how beautiful this is,'” Trump said.

‘He really loved the family. But I also remember him saying very clearly: ‘Charles, look, young Charles, he’s so sweet.’

‘My mother was in love with Charles. Can you believe this? It’s surprising that I wonder what you’re thinking right now.’

In his speech, which carried echoes of the ‘special relationship’, Trump branded the US and UK ‘the two most exceptional countries the world has ever known’ and called on the countries to move forward ‘together… with even stronger determination’.

Trump concluded his words as follows: ‘Your Majesty, thank you once again for this important visit. “We were very honored.”

Following the President and First Lady Melania’s high-profile but low-key welcome to the United States yesterday, the couple’s historic and controversial official visit, which consisted of cups of tea, delicious sandwiches and conversation, was in full swing this morning.

The American leader, who insisted that the first state visit of his second presidency be made by the British Royal Family and described the monarch as a ‘great man’, was keen to showcase his country’s military history and prowess, sources said.

He formally welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla with a military ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House; This is the highest diplomatic honor the United States bestows on a visiting head of state.

Donald Trump speaks to King Charles at his arrival ceremony on the South Lawn today

Queen Camilla, King Charles, President Donald Trump and Melania Trump at the White House

Donald Trump was ‘in love’ with his mother Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, with whom he joked at the White House ceremony, with then-Prince Charles

Prince Charles, 29, is seen surveying the countryside during a hunt in Cirencester in 1978. Trump joked today that his mother finds the young prince ‘cute’.

A photograph taken in 1932 shows a young Mary Anne MacLeod. Trump said in his speech that his mother admired the royal family.

Even the pre-ceremony performance featured numerous musicians (more than 200 in total), including members of the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps; There was also music by the U.S. Navy Band, the U.S. Air Force Band, and the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters.

After meeting official delegations from both countries, including senior political figures, the King and Queen, along with the President and First Lady, were expected to take to the podium for a 21-gun salute and national anthems played by the US Marine Band.

They will also play during the audit before ending with John Philip Sousa’s ‘Stars and Stripes Forever’ march.

Her Majesty and the President, accompanied by the Troop Commander, inspected the troops on parade during the mirror ceremony of the Guard of Honor received by President Trump at Windsor Castle during his recent state visit to the United Kingdom.

A notable addition to the assembled military regiments was the ‘Space Force’. This is the first White House event attended by the Space Force Honor Guard Formation, the administration said.

While they were inspecting the soldiers, Trump allowed them to walk in front of the King with his hand.

Speaking later on the South Lawn, Trump acknowledged the apparent irony of the royal family’s state visit to the United States, which this year celebrates 250 years of independence from the British.

He also found time to make a quick joke about the gray and rainy conditions, noting: ‘What a lovely British day this is.’

Trump said: ‘Here, in the shadow of the monuments to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson honoring the British king may seem like an ironic start to our celebration of 250 years of American independence, but in reality there could be no more fitting tribute.

‘Before we declared our independence, Americans carried within us the rarest gift of moral courage, and it came from a small but mighty kingdom across the sea.

‘The American patriots who devoted their lives to their independence in 1776 were the heirs of this glorious legacy; his veins rang with the English belief in standing for what was true, good and true.’

He added: ‘In the centuries since our independence the Americans have had no closer friends than the British.

‘We share the same root. We speak the same language. ‘We have the same values, and together our warriors have defended the same extraordinary civilization under twin flags of red, white and blue.’

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump met with King George III today. greeted Charles

First Lady Melania Trump speaks with Queen Camilla on the South Lawn of the White House

Queen Camilla, King Charles, President Donald Trump and Melania Trump at the White House

Queen, First Lady, President and King parade during red carpet visit

The King gave a wide-ranging speech on the South Lawn in which he joked about the ‘British’ atmosphere in Washington DC and praised both countries.

The King and Queen enjoy flying from the White House’s Blue Room Balcony after inspecting US soldiers

Donald Trump speaks to King Charles at his arrival ceremony on the South Lawn today

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump meet with King George III in Washington. welcomed Charles

King Charles III shakes hands with Vice President J.D. Vance as he greets members of the Trump administration on the South Lawn

U.S. Armed Forces participating in the ceremony include:

• Military Aides to the President of the United States (Army, Marine Corps, Space Force)
• White House Marine Sentinels
• White House Social Aides
• United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
• United States Army Herald Trumpets
• 3d United States Infantry Regiment (Old Guard), Honor Guard, United States Army
• 3d United States Infantry Regiment (Old Guard), Commander-in-Chief’s Guard, United States Army
• United States Army Presidential Salute Battery
• United States Marine Corps Honor Guard
• United States Navy Ceremonial Guard
• United States Air Force Honor Guard
• United States Space Force Honor Guard
• United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard

Before entering the White House, Her Majesty and the President and First Lady will pause on the historic balcony of the South Portico, where they will watch the dramatic ‘Passing in Review’ of approximately 500 members of the US Armed Forces from all six military services represented at the ceremony, marking another historic state visit to the White House.

Diplomats see this as a sign of how eager the President is to make the trip a success.

Following the morning’s ceremonial elements, the King and President will hold bilateral meetings with their most senior advisors in the iconic Oval Office.

Although photographers will be present to capture the first moments of the meeting, there will be no reporters or television cameras at the meeting.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given some of the President’s recent showdowns at his official residence, opportunities to hear the two men speak were kept to a minimum.

Meanwhile, the Queen and the First Lady, who warmly welcomed each other with kisses yesterday, will hold a short joint engagement together.

Students will join American students for an intercultural educational event at the White House Tennis Pavilion, where they will use virtual reality headsets and AI-enabled glasses to learn about American history and the United Kingdom, featuring artifacts from the White House Collection and the National Archives and Records Administration.

President Donald Trump and King Charles III were seated on stage during the arrival ceremony

US Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump with King George III. He came out to greet Charles

While there have been calls in recent weeks for the British government to cancel the visit due to President Trump’s aggressive foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East, and his spectacular disagreement with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, ministers and diplomats are hopeful that the King’s legendary powers of ‘soft diplomacy’ will help heal some of the cracks.

The King has developed a truly warm relationship with the President, who makes no secret of his admiration for the British Royal Family.

He was deeply moved by the reception he received over the years in the United Kingdom, both at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle; so much so that he decided to build his own White House ballroom for official entertaining.

Built around events commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which marked America’s separation from Great Britain, the trip has been billed as the most challenging trip of Her Majesty’s reign so far.

But the reception it received today shows that the host is, above all, keen for the event to go off without a hitch.

The King would later become the second monarch in history to speak to a joint session of Congress; The first will be his late mother.

His message will be clear: the US and UK can come together even if they cannot agree on the issue, in words that will be welcomed by politicians on both sides of the Atlantic.