King Charles III will travel to Washington for a private tea and state dinner with Donald Trump at a moment when the 'special relationship' between the US and UK has plunged to its lowest point in 70 years, driven by the US president's war in Iran and his belittlement of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Soft Power Meets Mercurial Temperament
Some expect a masterclass in soft power from the British monarch, whose life has been governed by protocol. Others warn of a brutal humiliation when he faces a man who glories in smashing norms. Trump, for his part, may hope the pageantry of a royal visit distracts from his domestic political troubles, which have dragged his approval rating to 33%. However, his recent broadsides against the pope demonstrate his contempt for once-sacred norms, and Washington will watch closely to see if Charles suffers a similar fate.
Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania said: 'The king is in a challenging spot. He’s attempting to use the soft power of his position while tiptoeing around Trump’s constant bashing of the British prime minister. It’s not exactly the happy, festive ceremonial role a visit like this would typically be.'
High-Profile Trip Amidst Tensions
The four-day trip, the most high-profile of Charles’s reign, is ostensibly designed to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence. The 77-year-old monarch is sure to emphasise strong bonds that transcend momentary spats. He arrives with cultural capital thanks to Trump’s reverence for the royals; the president is said to regard his visit to Windsor Castle last September as a highlight of his first year back in office.
Still, there could hardly be a more unlikely pairing: a staid monarch whose every move is choreographed and a mercurial president seen by critics as an agent of chaos. The Save America Movement, a US pro-democracy group, argues that Charles is wrong to legitimise Trump’s extremism and plans an aggressive advertising campaign to follow the king everywhere.
Steve Schmidt, a veteran political strategist on Save America’s steering committee, said: 'He is coming at a moment where Trump is unhinged, waging an illegal war, plunging the world into chaos. While the king lives in rarefied air, his decision here will be met with fierce opposition.' Schmidt even compared Charles’s uncle, the Duke of Windsor, meeting Adolf Hitler in 1937: 'He will be standing next to a full-blooded American fascist threatening world peace. The optics are awful. This is a moment where the crown will be used as propaganda.'
Epstein Shadow Looms
Images of Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected onto Windsor Castle last year. Schmidt noted that Charles’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was arrested in February on suspicion of leaking government documents to Epstein, 'is a charter member of the Epstein class that Donald Trump is part of. Everybody in the royal family knew exactly what Andrew was, just as everyone around Trump knows exactly what Trump is. That’s going to be extremely uncomfortable.'
Palace aides will be anxious to keep the king away from reporters who might shout questions about his brother’s ties to Epstein. Democrats in Congress are also pressing the issue. Last month, Representative Ro Khanna of California wrote to Charles requesting a meeting with survivors of Epstein’s abuse, but Buckingham Palace has ruled out such a meeting, citing legal advice.
Congressional Address and Fallout
On Tuesday, Khanna will hold a public meeting on Capitol Hill with advocacy groups and Epstein survivors. Charles is due to address a joint meeting of Congress later that day. Khanna told the Guardian: 'The king, by meeting the survivors, would signal that whether you’re a royal or a daughter of immigrants, you have human rights. Is the monarchy going to be a constructive force in the 21st century? The king has a defining moment.'
Charles will be the first British monarch to speak to Congress since his mother, Elizabeth II, in 1991. Although the speech is sure to be delicately crafted to avoid political controversy, Khanna added: 'Even if the king does not visit with the Epstein survivors, I hope he will talk about the illegal, immoral war in Iran, the need for leadership on climate, and the need to have allies. He hopefully will articulate a vision that isn’t just rubber-stamping Trump’s whims.'
Bristling at Intervention
Some in Britain bristle at Khanna’s intervention, given the scant legal or political reckoning over the Epstein files in the US. The British establishment, by contrast, has been shaken by the arrest of Peter Mandelson, a former ambassador to the US, leaving Starmer fighting for his job. Adding to the prime minister’s woes is a chasm between the White House and Downing Street over the Iran war. Trump singled out Starmer for failing to provide active military support, dismissing him as 'no Winston Churchill' and deriding Britain’s aircraft carriers as mere 'toys.'
Susan Page, Washington bureau chief of USA Today, said: 'Between the war in Iran, the trouble with tariffs, and the debate over Nato, the special relationship is in as perilous a state as it’s been since it was formed.' Page noted that Charles’s mother was crucial in preserving the relationship during crises like the Suez crisis in 1956. 'Charles has succeeded in cultivating a relationship with Trump,' she said.
Trump's Warm Words
Asked by the BBC whether the king’s visit could help repair the US-UK relationship, Trump replied: 'Absolutely. He’s fantastic. He’s a fantastic man. I know him well. He’s a brave man, and he’s a great man. They would absolutely be a positive.'
Both Charles and Trump will speak at a state dinner in the White House East Room, which can seat about 200 people. It is rumored that Melania Trump has intervened to trim the guest list. After navigating Washington, Charles and Queen Camilla will travel to New York to meet first responders and families of 9/11 victims, then to Virginia for a street block party celebrating the 1776 Declaration of Independence.
Sean Spicer, Trump’s first press secretary, observed: 'For a lot of Americans, we’re proud of our heritage and the relationship between the two countries. Americans have always had an affinity for the royals.' But Sidney Blumenthal, a former aide to President Bill Clinton, had a more sceptical take: 'Charles can come as an expert on the madness of kings. He can read those relevant sections of the Declaration of Independence. Presumably, in his speech to Congress, Charles should call for the full release of the Epstein files. The ghost of Jeffrey Epstein haunts everything.'
