On Monday, April 27, King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Washington, D.C., to start a four-day state visit. The power of the monarchy will be on full display as the monarch attempts to smooth the choppy political waters separating Britain and the U.S. government.
President Trump has been bashing the U.K. for months on everything from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s character – comparing him to Neville Chamberlain – to its military – mocking it for having “two, old broken-down aircraft carriers.” Last week, a Pentagon report suggested that the U.S. should punish its NATO allies, including Britain, for their lack of support for the American war against Iran by reviewing its support of the British administration of the Falkland Islands.
Meanwhile, the royals are doing everything they can to smooth the waters. In diplomacy, symbolism is noticed. When Queen Camila walked down the steps of their aircraft, she pinned to her pink Dior dress a jewel-studded brooch in the shape of the U.K. and U.S. flags, which was given to the late Elizabeth II by New York’s mayor on her first state visit to the country in 1957.
During a short stop at Blair House, where they are based for the state visit, Queen Camilla changed for tea at the White House, again making sure that brooch was pinned to her Anna Valentine outfit.
After that, they went to the British Embassy for a garden party.
The big ceremonial events occur tomorrow: the official welcome, the King’s address to a joint session of Congress, and the state banquet at the White House. But there’s no doubt that the visit is starting with good images and good feelings all around.
And that’s exactly what the organizers intended.
The King privately reached out to the Trumps after the attack at the correspondents’ dinner on Saturday. A statement released to journalists read in part: “His Majesty is being kept fully informed of developments and is greatly relieved to hear that the President, First Lady and all guests have been unharmed.”
In 1994, Charles came face to face with an attacker firing a starting pistol during Australia Day ceremonies in Sydney. His police protection officer pushed him out of the way of danger, then he insisted on giving his interrupted speech. Charles was the epitome of coolness under fire.
His mother, Elizabeth II, also came under attack, most famously by a man who fired six shots during Trooping the Colour in 1981. She kept control of her RCMP horse, Burmese, while riding side saddle, and continued with the rest of the event.
On Saturday, Australia and New Zealand marked Anzac Day, a day of remembrance for those who died in the First World War. In Britain, royals always attend a dawn ceremony (Anne was there this year) and a subsequent wreath laying at the Cenotaph and service at Westminster Abbey (Kate did the latter two events).
Prince Harry was a full-time working royal long enough – from leaving the military in 2015 until he left royal life in 2020 – to know that royals should do nothing to overshadow such an important royal occasion as a state visit. He’s also trying to reestablish a relationship with his father, and perhaps other members of the family, for whom duty is paramount.
That makes his comments in Kyiv all the more baffling.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source writeroyalty.substack.com ’
