King must delay state visit if Iran-US war continues, former ambassador warns
The King and Queen should postpone their visits to the US if the war in the Middle East continues, a former British ambassador has said.
Charles and Camilla will visit Washington and New York next month. However, Sir Peter Westmacott, who served as Britain’s ambassador to Washington between 2012 and 2016, said the visit should be postponed if the Iran-US war continues because it would be “problematic” for the King.
His comments came amid wider calls for the King’s visit to be canceled after President Donald Trump scolded Sir Keir Starmer over the UK’s response to the war in the Middle East.
To talk royal family, A podcast hosted by TimesSir Westmacott said: “Personally I think it is problematic at the moment when this war is going on. The US government is waging a war that the British government clearly thought was illegal to begin with.”
He added: “I imagine both the prime minister and the palace will be asking themselves: ‘What do the British public really think about this? How would a state visit to the US now be perceived, how would it be felt? Is this an indication of the King? Does he approve of what the US president is doing?’ “This should be a topic for discussion as this continues.”
The former British diplomat also described some of the US’s actions in the conflict with Iran as “war crimes”, pointing to the bombing of a girls’ school during the first attacks.
However, Sir Westmacott suggested that the visit should be postponed rather than cancelled, as a way of better managing Britain’s relations with the US.
He said: “This is too important a relationship for us to risk antagonizing a slightly thin-skinned president.”
King Charles played a vital role in easing relations between Britain and Mr Trump; The US president’s second state visit last year was seen as a great success.
The upcoming state visit will be attended by Queen Elizabeth II. It will coincide with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the US declaration of independence, the first visit by a British monarch since Elizabeth II accepted George W. Bush’s invitation in 2007.
In a survey of 12,000 people in the UK last week, YouGov, While 46 percent said the King’s visit to the United States should be cancelled, 36 percent said it should go ahead.
In a separate survey published on the same day, 37 percent said they “strongly oppose” the US military operation against Iran.
Sir Westmacott told Times It was stated in the podcast that the government had a “duty to protect the monarchy in such a situation” and a “duty to reflect public opinion in this country”.
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey also called for the visit to be cancelled.
The Liberal Democrat leader said Mr Trump should not be allowed “another major diplomatic coup” after launching what he called an “illegal war” against Iran.
“Keir Starmer should advise the King that his planned visit to the US in April should be cancelled,” he said.
“At a time when Trump has launched an illegal war that is devastating the Middle East and driving up energy bills for British families, it is clear that this visit should not go ahead.”
Labor supporters also joined the call for the state visit to be cancelled, with one person quoted as saying: “It would be good to cancel and send a message.”
Buckingham Palace has been approached for comment.
