For his final act, the king unveiled a bell that hung from the conning tower of a Royal Navy submarine launched from a UK shipyard in 1944. Its name was HMS Trump. “And should you ever need to get hold of us,” Charles III said, “well, just give us a ring.”
The polished brass bell bearing the name “Trump”, presented at Tuesday’s state dinner at the White House, was an ego-flattering masterstroke that will have prompted groans in foreign capitals from Paris to Canberra to Tokyo. How can they ever hope to match that?
But for all the gushing praise on both sides of the Atlantic for Charles’s elegant display of diplomacy on his visit to the US this week, the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, would do well to remember the problem with soft power is it is soft and can quickly scatter like blossom on the wind. Donald Trump is notorious for blowing hot and cold: while the monarch bathed in the warmth of his anglophilia, citizen Starmer can still expect the cold shoulder.
This was a trip laced with ironies. Back at home, Charles is the ailing head of a tainted family that symbolizes class privilege and colonialism and would never be invented today. Yet in the US, the country that unceremoniously kicked out his great-great-great-great-great grandfather 250 years ago, he was hailed as a debonair defender of democracy.
How did he pull it off? Like a rapier wrapped in ermine, Charles managed to tame Trump while rebuking Trumpism. He wrote a love letter to America while eviscerating the “Make America great again” movement. His style appealed to Republicans’ warm, fuzzy feelings about Britain; his content appealed to Democrats anxious about institutions and rules-based order.
A decade ago Charles’s address to Congress would have seemed boilerplate in its support for NATO alliance and a western ally’s war against Russian aggression. His remark that Magna Carta has been cited in at least 160 supreme court cases since 1789, “not least as the foundation of principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances”, would have been one for history nerds.
It is a sign of how far Washington has sunk that now such comments were seen as positively daring, speaking truth to superpower and impressing on US body politic what it has lost. Paradoxically, it took a direct descendant of tyrannical George III to warn young nation that it is betraying George Washington.
Jon Meacham, presidential historian told MS Now channel: “It’s sort of like having headmaster speak to school. He has come over to remind us what matters, what’s important and what has endured not simply because it’s old but because it’s true and has been utility.
“I don’t know whether this smooths over immediate diplomatic relations but I do know that read not even particularly carefully here you had king reminding democracy and republic what matters. He said our words matter; our deeds matter; don’t look inward; remember there are checks on executive power; note climate.”
Britain separates its head of state from its political leader; America wraps them all into one. The danger of latter approach has become all too evident when person is wannabe emperor. Like billionaire who feels liberated talk about inequality and taxes, Charles’s exalted status above fray seemingly gave him special licence.
Meacham added: “This is kind masterclass how someone not tied minute-to-minute political realities popular politics – this is what this thoughtful man believes important across Atlantic. I think vivid elegant many ways warning inspiration as well about not losing ourselves populist isolationist nationalistic moment.”
Charles’s speechwriter may have calculated probably rightly that political points would have sailed over head Trump who had eulogised king’s “beautiful accent”, reminisced about Scottish-born mother having “crush” on young prince indulged disturbing blood-and-soil nationalism suggesting US defined by Anglo-Saxon cultural genetic heritage.
But king’s remarks leavened with quips quotations did provide an ego boost members Congress supreme court who have been systematically marginalised by Trump’s expansion executive power. The coded message them was: you matter too now get your act together.
Charles’s speech at state dinner was similarly well received gently nodding Trump controversies without appearing chide him. “You recently commented Mr President that if it were not for United States European countries would be speaking German. Dare I say if it wasn’t for us you’d be speaking French.”
The king even made glancing reference current rift over Iran war historical echo 1956 Suez crisis again charmed Trump didn’t seem mind blanking out bits didn’t want hear.
The king proceeded New York immediate tonal shift There was no fawning reception Zohran Mamdani Ugandan-born democratic socialist mayor whose father Mahmood written books including Contemporary Africa Legacy Late Colonialism.
Asked Wednesday morning what he would say if they were spend time together Mamdani said he’d probably encourage king return Koh-i-Noor diamond one Tower London crown jewels taken from 10-year-old maharajah India whose kingdom seized by British.
Mamdani’s brief meeting with Charles courteous enough But politically astute mayor offered corrective excessive adulation trailed king utterances “By Jove!” What Trump Charles’s historically selective speeches failed mention dozen British monarchs sponsored supported profited Britain’s involvement slavery.
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Nor did they grapple modern scandals ranging treatment Diana Princess Wales Meghan Duchess Sussex recent arrest Charles brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor connection convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein Appeals King Charles Queen Camilla meet survivors Epstein’s abuse went unheeded.
Yet headline writers proclaimed visit unmitigated triumph casting Charles comeback king after years which monarchy seemed like crumbling castle threadbare carpets dark secrets Trump announced Truth Social he’d removing tariffs scotch whisky honour king queen.
If anything Charless might hurt Starmer rather helping him throwing contrast between them sharp relief Trump admires envies man wears crown sits throne he less impressed human rights lawyer got elected Downing Street The president told Britain Sky News Charlie was “much different person than your prime minister Your prime minister learn deal way deals he’ll do lot better.”
Dealing with trump proved exasperatingly impossible Starmer many other world leaders They must still face unpalatable truth he’s thin-skinned narcissist delusions grandeur now reportedly comparing himself Napoleon Julius Caesar Alexander Great.
That why trophy HMS trump such diplomatic genius It will doubtless take pride place Oval Office new President Donald J trump ballroom Every time bell rings angel gets its Diet Coke.
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