Why the King’s visit to meet Trump is crucial for Starmer
toSince Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office, Sir Keir Starmer has relied heavily on the president’s fondness for the royal family to help bridge the gap between Downing Street and the White House.
So, with special relations likely at their lowest level since the Suez Crisis of 1956, King Charles’ state visit to Washington DC could not have come at a more important juncture.
While there are serious questions about whether Sir Keir will survive as prime minister, the impact of the King’s visit will be vital not only for him, but also for whoever leads the Labor government in the 2029 election.
The special relationship has deteriorated significantly in recent weeks following the president’s repeated taunts at Sir Keir, including likening him to Neville Chamberlain, embarrassing him over Chagos, apparently threatening the status of the Falkland Islands and suggesting the UK could face new tariffs.
While Sir Keir cannot U-turn and suddenly support an illegal war with Iran or agree to handing Greenland to the Americans, there is some hope that King Charles could make a much more positive case against this most turbulent of presidents.
President Trump said the same thing in an interview last week when asked about the visit.
When asked if this could repair the relationship, she said: “Absolutely. He’s amazing. He’s an amazing man. My answer is definitely yes.”
“I know him well, I’ve known him for years. He’s a brave man and a great guy. It would definitely be a positive.”
The truth is that Trump respects the late Queen, loves the royals, considers King Charles a personal friend and has had regular private meetings with Prince William since their meeting in Paris in late 2024.
The royal family’s role, although often kept at arm’s length, remains an important part of British diplomacy and works hand in hand with the Foreign Office. Yvette Cooper’s presence there underlines this.
Trump’s Scottish mother gave him his love of the royal family and his desire to be close to them, and this is being used as Britain’s most important soft power card during this difficult time.
Sir Keir used it to great effect early in the presidency, bringing the King’s invitation for Trump’s second state visit with him to Washington last year.
The UK government got an early trade deal out of this and received support on more complex issues, such as the transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, until things went off the rails.
Both problems have escalated tremendously since then, and trade agreements now look tenuous. But at least in the area of trade and defence, the UK government must be hoping that the King can get things back on track; especially because Sir Keir appointed Sir Christian Turner, a distinguished career diplomat in London, as ambassador, rather than a highly controversial politician like Peter Mandelson.
The visit was carefully planned to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States’ declaration of independence from Britain. The point where the two parted ways seems like an apt analogy considering the current state of the relationship.
