“Special relationship” on a tough test: King Charles on a four-day visit to the United States – World

Washington dinner shooting attended by US President Donald Trump on Saturday was the trigger for last-minute security checks ahead of the start of the British monarch’s four-day state visit today to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States and the “special relationship” between the US and Great Britain.

Buckingham Palace said the king was “very relieved to hear that the president, first lady and all guests were unharmed”. After the security check, the palace announced that the tour would “continue as planned”.

Trump praises the king but mocks Starmer

The rift between the British government and Trump over issues including the Iran war has already raised the political stakes for the British monarch’s visit, AP writes.

In recent weeks, Trump has criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his reluctance to join US military strikes against Iran, dismissing the British leader as “no Winston Churchill”, the World War II prime minister who coined the phrase “special relationship” for the UK-US relationship.

It is part of a wider rift between Trump and the United States’ NATO allies, whom he has called “cowardly” and “useless” for not joining the crackdown on Iran. A leaked Pentagon email has suggested the US may reconsider its support for UK sovereignty over the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. Great Britain and Argentina fought a war in 1982 over the islands, also known as the Malvinas Islands.

The president insists that the political cooling will not affect the royal visit. Charles “has nothing to do with it,” Trump said in March, referring to NATO.

The president spoke highly of Charles, repeatedly calling the monarch his “friend” and a “great guy.”

He also continues to mention his “amazing” trip to the UK in September with first lady Melania Trump, an unprecedented second state visit. Starmer personally delivered an invitation from the king in the Oval Office five weeks after the Republican president returned to office, in a very public bid to woo the president.

The British royal family prepared a pomp and pageantry for the Trumps, with Red Guards, brass bands and a lavish banquet at Windsor Castle.

“President Trump has always had great respect for King Charles, and their relationship was further strengthened by the president’s historic visit to the United Kingdom last year,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told The Associated Press. “The President is looking forward to a special visit from Their Majesties, which will include a beautiful state dinner and more events during the week.”

Trump, meanwhile, told the BBC that the king’s visit could “absolutely” help mend transatlantic relations.

“He’s fantastic. He’s a fantastic man. The answer is absolutely yes,” the president said.

Christopher Allerfeldt, a professor at the University of Exeter who specializes in American history, said the two governments have very different goals when it comes to the king’s state visit to the United States.

He said that for Charles the trip was “strengthening long-term ties, showcasing the soft power of the monarchy and reminding the world that Britain still carries diplomatic weight”.

For Trump, it is more of a “media event”, with an emphasis on the optics of the visit reminiscent of the meeting of “two gilded monarchs”.

Although the British monarch must remain above politics, according to CNNhis government hopes his US tour will help ease tensions. Charles and Camilla will have plenty of time to chat with the Trumps during the Washington leg of the trip, which will culminate with the king addressing Congress, before the royals head to New York and Virginia.

“The king won’t have the kind of conversations with the president or senior senators and so on that a prime minister would, but he’s extremely well informed and that provides an opportunity to have private conversations about some really important issues,” said Peter Westmacott, a former British ambassador to the United States.

A tough test

Charles has become a kind of “ace up the sleeve” for the British government, according to CNN. When Starmer visited the White House last year, he wasted no time brandishing a letter from the king, inviting the president to make a state visit to Windsor. The move showed how Starmer’s government plans to deal with Trump in his second term – playing on his penchant for flattery and the royal family and hoping to reap the rewards of such an initiative.

Trump’s affection for Britain and its monarchy is known to be deep-rooted. In “The Art of the Deal,” Trump said he got his “sense of showmanship” from Queen Elizabeth II, whose coronation he watched on television as a boy. He recalled being “enthralled by the pomp and circumstance, the whole idea of ​​royalty and glamour.” And the president often talks about his “great love” for Scotland, his mother’s birthplace, where he owns two golf courses.

But beneath this affection, there are deep differences between the monarch and the president.

Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” plan is the kind of policy that Charles, an environmental advocate, has fought against for decades. While the king is a proponent of wind farms, Trump despises them. Last year he complained that wind farms off the coast of his Turnbury golf course were not only a mockery, but also “driving the whales crazy”.

When Trump met with then-Prince Charles during his first term, he complained that the conversation was “terrible,” according to former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham. Trump said the future king talked about nothing but climate change, Grisham wrote in her memoir.

While the late Queen Elizabeth II enjoyed relatively good relations during her seven visits to the US, Charles will be acutely aware of the turbulent environment he will have to navigate as he uses the diplomatic expertise he has honed over decades. He knows how careful words and thoughtful actions can defuse broader tensions, according to CNN.

For the king, this trip is not just about Trump. It is about America and the shared history of the two countries. That relationship “transcends the presidency,” a UK source familiar with the state visit arrangements told CNN.

The trip also represents a serious diplomatic test for the White House, which will offer the full pomp and circumstance of an official state visit.

Trump has personally taken on an expanded role in planning tomorrow night’s event, according to one source familiar with the situation.

First Lady Melania Trump indicated that she was involved in the floral design and china selection, working closely with a team of White House chefs, social affairs staff and protocol experts.

“An event of this magnitude and importance is given a great deal of care and attention,” a White House official told CNN.

Donald Trump, who is known to enjoy the pomp of official events, took the lead on details such as drawing up the guest list and selecting the menu, with his wife involved.

While their husbands meet, the first lady will host Queen Camilla at an educational event using virtual reality headsets and artificial intelligence glasses with American students.

While Trump revels in his love of all things royal, Charles will highlight the shared history between the two countries – and perhaps ease current tensions in the process.

Asked whether a visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla could help mend faltering relations between the US and Great Britain, Trump struck a positive tone on Thursday. “Absolutely, the answer is yes,” he told the BBC in a telephone interview.

“I know him well, I’ve known him for years,” he said. “He’s a brave man and a great man. They would absolutely be positive.”