Up to 500 members of the six branches of the US Armed Forces have been deployed at the White House to receive the British monarchs, Charles III and Camilla, who on Tuesday begin a historic State Visit to the former colony, marked by tension in the relations between Washington and London, but also by the failed assassination attempt against Trump on Saturday, allowing the monarch to turn the trip into a gesture of solidarity towards his host, ultimately aiming to charm and win over the successor of Queen Elizabeth II.
The number of military personnel present is extraordinary, far exceeding the usual for such occasions. This is ordered by Trump, who is determined to impress his visitors, to show the head of the Windsors that no country can even compete in greatness with the superpower.
Not even the rain that dawned on Tuesday in Washington has prevented a crowd of onlookers from eagerly awaiting the arrival of the royals at the South Lawn of the White House. After all, it's not every day that one sees someone of royal blood up close.
Also present for the reception are Vice President JD Vance, along with other Cabinet members such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Trump's Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles. UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Yvette Cooper, is also in attendance.
The welcoming ceremony atmosphere has been marked by the performance of the United States Army Bagpipes and Drums Band, a gesture emphasizing the shared heritage between both nations. The Presidential Salute Battery has fired 72mm shells in a 21-gun salute. Trump and Charles III review the troops in full dress. In addition to the military leadership, the official US delegation includes military families, UK representatives, and students from the British International School of Washington, giving the encounter a communal and educational character.
Trump addressed the attendees in the first of several speeches to be delivered in the coming days, welcoming his guests and highlighting that it is a "tremendous privilege to receive" the king and queen. He described Charles III as a "very elegant man." The American president praised the role of the royal family and fondly remembered Queen Elizabeth II. He then joked about his own mother, Mary Macleod, saying that "she was in love with the now King Charles when he was a young prince." "I remember her saying 'Charles is so cute'."
Trump made what was interpreted as a jab at Keir Starmer by referring to "the greatest Prime Minister of the UK," Sir Winston Churchill. "It is said that when Prime Minister Churchill first met this future king many decades ago, he was so impressed that he exclaimed: 'He is so young to think so much and so well,' and the bust of that great Prime Minister proudly rests in the Oval Office."
Trump's speech departed completely from the disparagements he has been directing at Britain in recent months. He highlighted the shared history of the United States and the UK, stating that eight decades ago Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt met on a ship in the North Atlantic "to outline a vision of a free world after World War II." "That understanding of the unique bond that unites our nations and their role in history is the essence of our special relationship, and we hope it will always remain so. Let us move forward with an even firmer resolve to continue our sacred devotion to freedom and the traditions of excellence that have been a shared gift to all humanity," he emphasized in a speech where it was difficult to see the usual Trump.
"In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British. We share the same roots, speak the same language, share the same values," continued an unrecognizable occupant of the White House.
The Security detail has been substantially increased following the events at the Correspondents' Dinner, with multiple layers of protection, both invisible and highly visible. "The security measures will match the gravity and magnitude of the visit," declared Anthony Guglielmi, spokesperson for the Secret Service, upon the arrival of the occupant of the throne of St. George.
Donald and Melania Trump await the arrival of the kings.AFP
Charles III and his consort landed in Washington D.C on Monday afternoon, a city adorned with American and British flags for the occasion, and were immediately informally welcomed by the Trumps at the White House, where the four shared a tea and a relaxed meeting. The royals were also honored by their hosts with a tour of the most private areas of the presidential residence and a small celebration in the garden.
But the official program begins on Tuesday, with the dazzling reception. After the protocol greetings, the rendition of the national anthems of both countries, the troop review, and the customary pleasantries, the customary exchange of gifts typical of State Visits takes place before Trump and Charles III get down to business in the Oval Office. There are important matters to discuss.
It is not easy to imagine two leaders more antithetical at first glance. King Charles III is a declared European and Atlanticist, convinced of the benefits of the liberal democracy born after World War II, a defender of the international order based on old customary norms, an environmentalist, a champion of the fight against climate change, a lover of sustainable agriculture, a defender of multiculturalism, and despite being the leader of the Church of England, deeply spiritual advocating for continuous interreligious dialogue. Almost a woke, the MAGA would define him in a stroke. Donald Trump is quite the opposite. There is no need to delve into details at this point.
There seem to be few things that the two have in common. And yet, oh, the magic! The President of the United States deeply respects the British monarch. It is a sentiment that few heads of state awaken in him, probably because none seem to measure up. But he holds Charles III in esteem. And that is evident, both in his public statements -few have received as many compliments, from "he is a good man" to "no one can exercise leadership like yours in the UK"- and in the chemistry that arises when they meet. No one knows if it is a reciprocal feeling. But it doesn't matter. The kings are programmed not to show their emotions and are true professionals in the art of courtship and pleasing their interlocutors. So, everything works.
In reality, Trump is fascinated by Monarchy, especially by the British Monarchy, inherited from the genuine affection that his mother, of Scottish origin, projected onto Queen Elizabeth II. Between that and the fact that the Crown is the best tool of soft diplomacy available to what remains of the old British Empire, the head of the Windsors has rolled up his sleeves to face the most delicate mission since assuming the throne in September 2022, that of trying to revitalize the "special relationship" between Washington and London, currently going through its deepest crisis of the last century.
Everything seems to separate the United States from the United Kingdom at present. For the Trump Administration, the stance of Labour Party leader Keir Starmer regarding the war in Iran, where they have refused to blindly follow the superpower into military action, has been the final straw in the cooling of relations. But there are numerous other significant disagreements, from immigration policy to the trade war, including the pressure from the White House on Downing Street to concede and increase oil and gas extraction in the North Sea. Relations have soured so much between the two traditional and solid allies that even in recent days, Trump has threatened the British where it hurts the most, by hinting at withdrawing diplomatic support regarding the Falklands, the islands claimed by Argentina. This is no joke. This dispute already led to the 1982 war and for the citizens of a Britain in search of its new identity and place in the world, while still carrying a significant amount of imperial nostalgia, mentioning the Falklands, even more so than mentioning Gibraltar, is a blow to their nationalistic pride.
Given the circumstances, although the historic State visit of Charles III and Camilla to the US is happening in less than ideal conditions for a trip of this nature, London understood that not only was canceling the event out of the question, but they are now relying on the king's diplomacy to heal the wound, or at least stop it from festering. The advantage for the monarch is that in Washington, they always make a clear distinction between the Government and the British royalty: the former represents the contingent, the temporary, the volatile, the passing; whereas the Crown symbolizes permanence and embodies the nation's history, so closely linked to that of the United States, who are currently celebrating their 250 years of independence, the reason behind the royal visit scheduled for these dates.
Trump himself admitted last week to the BBC that the anticipated arrival of the king "undoubtedly" can help repair bilateral relations. "The answer is yes. Absolutely. He's a fantastic man. I know him well, I've known him for years. He's a great man, a brave man," emphasized the American president.
A Delicate Mission
Experts on the British Monarchy and analysts have been warning for weeks about the risks involved in this trip for Charles III. Firstly, Trump is an unpredictable president, with a very volatile personality, lacking the finesse of diplomacy and the customs that characterize international relations, a framework from which no parliamentary monarch can deviate. It is not difficult to predict that the king will need to show flexibility, composure, and acrobatic skills to navigate potentially awkward references to Starmer's government from his interlocutor. But above all, this trip is surrounded by such high expectations that its success or failure will be measured by the real influence the monarch can exert on Trump to at least ease tensions. It doesn't seem easy.
"The UK and the United States always find a way to engage in dialogue." That is precisely the underlying theme that will also thread through Charles III's speech to the US Congress this Tuesday, in a joint session, the most significant event of this trip. It is also expected that he will affirm that, in times of great international challenges, it is more necessary than ever to remain united in defense of democratic values. Sources close to Buckingham have hinted that he will urge the defense of principles of tolerance, freedom, and equality, whether by supporting NATO or protecting Ukraine. The speech has been drafted by the Palace, but following the recommendations of the Starmer-led Government.
Another thorny issue surrounding the visit of the British monarchs to the US is the Epstein case. In recent weeks, organizations supporting victims of the pedophile and sexual predator who took his own life in 2019 have called for the kings to make a gesture towards them during this four-day stay. A demand that grew after the brief arrest of former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the sovereign's brother, one of the most famous figures implicated in the financier's network. Buckingham clarified that it would not be possible for Charles III and Camilla to meet with victims, something that would have completely distorted the objectives of the historic trip. However, the monarchs did meet on Monday afternoon with representatives from four charitable organizations in Washington D.C. that combat child exploitation and domestic violence at a reception in the garden of the British Embassy. Michelle DeLaune, executive director of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, praised Queen Camilla as "wonderful" for "raising awareness" and "encouraging dialogue."