King ‘grasped in both hands’ the risk of US state visit and address to Congress, aide says
The King is “grasping with both hands” the “risks and challenges” of his latest state visit to the US but will not dwell on its perceived success, a senior palace aide has revealed.
The trip, which included a “major” speech to Congress, represented Charles’ most important diplomatic test to date, but also served as a crucial opportunity to advance palace goals at the Government’s request.
Much attention has been paid to the personal relationship between the King and Donald Trump, with an aide involved in the visit confirming that the two men “get on very well”.
“The warmth you see in public is definitely the warmth you see in private,” the aide added.
Asked whether it was strange that Trump had a warmer relationship with the King than the Prime Minister, the aide said: “This is not a competition between the King and the Government.
The King is there to support the Government, to assist the Government. “Of course, he made this visit at the request of the Government.”
The King’s speech to Congress was interpreted as a subtle challenge to some of Mr. Trump’s known positions, particularly on Ukraine, NATO, adherence to international rules and climate change.
But the aide emphasized that the King was guided by “truth” and his “conscience” as he delivered a speech that resonated with both Republicans and Democrats, noting that its content was “a measure of how much he cares personally.”
Ahead of the visit, Downing Street’s request for the King to travel was seen as a “throw of the dice” aimed at repairing the special UK-US relationship after Mr Trump repeatedly criticized Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the war in Iran.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey had previously expressed concerns that Charles was potentially embarrassed by Trump and advocated for the trip to be cancelled.
Reflecting on the trip, a senior palace aide noted: “What seemed like a risk and a challenge was also an extraordinary opportunity. It was grasped with both hands by the King, and we will leave it to you to decide what the outcome of that was.”
The aide further explained the King’s forward-looking nature: “He’s not a man to dwell too long on what some might consider yesterday’s achievements, he’s always looking at the opportunities of tomorrow, so overall we’ve tried to encourage him to feel positive about the direction of the American leg in particular – and he has – but his mind is already on what he can achieve next rather than what he’s achieved this week.”
The monarchy’s “soft power diplomacy” is seen as the most powerful tool in promoting the UK’s international interests. During the four-day visit, Mr. Trump appeared convinced and repeatedly praised the “wonderful” Charles.
A significant gesture came from Mr Trump, who lifted tariffs on Scotch whiskey following the intervention of the Queen and the King.
Referring to the bond between the two leaders and their spouses, the aide said: “They get along very well. Moreover, it is not just the King and the president. All four of them get along with each other.”
Despite the potential complexity in the bilateral relationship, the aide called it an “unlikely” but successful pairing and reiterated: “The warmth you see in public is definitely the warmth you see in private.” At the meeting in the Oval Office, there was “laughter” as well as serious discussions.
In his speech in the Congress Hall, Republicans and Democrats applauded 12 times as the King emphasized the importance of NATO, support for Ukraine, the value of European partners and the need to reduce global conflicts, which are key priorities for Sir Keir’s Government.
The New York Times observed: “King Charles’ jokes and manners In the face of some nuanced rebuttals to Trump, King Charles III gently pushed back on President Trump’s attacks on Britain and NATO and spoke of the importance of checks and balances.”
The aide acknowledged the “high-stakes speech to Congress,” adding: “First, what the King says will always be guided by the facts. Second, it will be guided by conscience. And third, these are all observable facts. Everything in that speech is an observable fact. And so, I think we felt very comfortable with the King speaking that way.”
The positive reception of the US speech and the strong relationship between the president and the King are believed to have placed the special relationship, which is especially meaningful on the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, on a more solid foundation.
His deputy reiterated the King’s supportive role: “The King is there to support the Government, to assist the Government. Of course, he made this visit at the request of the Government.” “The King and Queen were able to assist the Government in any way they could, and without the noise of current events, perhaps to ensure that the relationship was more widely understood by a wider number of people.”
Following his duties in the US, Charles embarked on a solo trip to Bermuda to celebrate the island’s culture and achievements, ending on Saturday.
The aide commented: “The King enjoyed it very much. It was very busy and the crowds were so large that they left us extremely late, but when you feel you’ve done a good thing here, that you’ve shown that this island is important to Britain, nobody cares, because it’s certainly important to the King.”
Despite ongoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, Charles remains steadfast in his duties. “This is definitely a mission-oriented guy. He’s a service-oriented guy,” the aide confirmed.
