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(TNND) \u2014 <\/span>King Charles III arrives in Washington on Monday for a four-day U.S. trip that’s likely to be heavy on symbolism and ceremony and light on politics and policy.<\/p>\n Charles isn\u2019t likely to directly address the underlying tensions between the two long-time allies during his visit with President Donald Trump. But the trip could help mend fences a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cThe best-case scenario for the British government is that Charles goes to the U.S., puts on a good show, puts Trump in a very good mood, and leaves him … with a friendly disposition towards the country,\u201d said Peter Harris, a political scientist at Colorado State University and a U.K. native who has lived in the U.S. for 16 years now.<\/p>\n Harris<\/a> said the U.S relationship with the U.K. is strained but remains a strong one, especially in terms of military, nuclear and intelligence cooperation.<\/p>\n Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have butted heads recently over both Trump\u2019s overtures to acquire Greenland and the use of bases on British soil for U.S. strikes against Iran.<\/p>\n Harris said America\u2019s relationship with Britain may be strained, but it\u2019s \u201cnot a catastrophe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, there’s still what people in Britain call a special relationship,\u201d he said. \u201cIt’s still strong across a number of dimensions, but strained is a good word.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump has been unhappy with Britain\u2019s lack of cooperation with the Iran war, especially early in the conflict. And Harris said Trump hasn\u2019t held back with his objections.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, he’s criticized Starmer publicly several times, sometimes in quite withering ways,\u201d Harris said.<\/p>\n Harris said there\u2019s a general perception within the Trump administration that Britain is just not being loyal enough, with both the Iran and Greenland issues falling into that bucket.<\/p>\n From the British perspective, an alliance should be an exchange of equals, not a test of loyalty, Harris said.<\/p>\n In early March, just days after the Iran war began, Trump seemingly derided Britain<\/a> as \u201cour once Great Ally\u201d and told reporters<\/a>, \u201cThis is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump took a very different tone when announcing Charles and Queen Camilla will visit the U.S. April 27-30.<\/p>\n \u201cI look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect,\u201d Trump said in a Truth Social post<\/a>.<\/p>\n