The meeting between US President Donald Trump and King Charles during last week’s State Visit was full of compliments and jovial laughter between the two.
During their formal goodbye at the White House in Washington D.C. on Friday, Trump said Charles was “the greatest King” and repeatedly called him “fantastic”.
However, their first meeting, over tea at Clarence House in 2019, when Charles was still the Prince of Wales, was very different.
And according to former White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham, Trump complained afterwards that the conversation had been “terrible”.
According to Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page in her new book, The Queen and Her Presidents, Trump was left “bored” by the then-future King, and said they spoke of “nothing but climate change”.
In a new passage serialised in The Telegraph, she writes: “Never mind that Trump had complained to aides that the then-Prince Charles bored him during their first meeting in 2019.
“Afterward, Trump told Grisham that the conversation had been terrible. ‘Nothing but climate change,’ Trump groused, rolling his eyes. Melania Trump confirmed that with a laugh. ‘Oh, yes, he was very bored,’ she said of her husband. But Trump said he had had a change of heart about Charles since then.”
A State Visit to remember
King Charles and Queen Camilla jetted to the US last week for a whirlwind tour of New York, Washington D.C., and Virginia, with the King continuing to Bermuda alone.
It appeared to be the King’s sternest diplomatic test to date, including a high-stakes address to Congress that earned him numerous standing ovations from US officials.
A senior palace aide said afterwards, “What looked like risk and challenge was also a phenomenal opportunity. One that was grasped in both hands by the King, and we shall leave you to conclude what the outcome of that was.” A parting gift came from Trump, who lifted tariffs on Scottish whisky after an intervention by the Queen and King.
The senior palace aide said about the relationship between the two world figures and their wives: “They get on very well. And it’s not just the King and the president. It’s all four of them with each other. The warmth that you see in public is absolutely the warmth you see in private.”
HELLO!‘s Royal Editor, Emily Nash, joined the King on the visit, and concluded that the King had “reminded us of the royal family’s value on the world stage”.
© AFP via Getty ImagesKing Charles’s thoughts on the White House
The King and Queen thought the White House was “amazing”, Trump said while noting they have “seen some very nice places”, in comments made after the visit.
The US president also said Charles and Camilla had been very impressed with the Oval Office during their recent state visit.
© AFP via Getty ImagesTrump revealed the royal couple’s views as he welcomed small business owners to the official residence in Washington DC.
Hosting a small business summit on Monday, Mr Trump said: “I’m thrilled to be with you and welcome you to the most fabulous place, the White House. There is nothing quite like it. People come from all over the world.
“The King and Queen were just here, and they looked and they said, ‘This place is just amazing’.”
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