King Charles III’s landmark US state visit is hitting headlines around the world with important speeches and special toasts with US President Donald Trump, but one photo from inside the Oval Office has got people talking for an altogether different reason. Three pictures of Charles in this special room were shared to HELLO!’s Instagram feed, and rather than looking at the monarch, fans were amazed by the transformation the room has undergone over the years.
Oval Office before and after
The first image was from 1970 when Charles was seen sitting with President Nixon on brightly coloured yellow chairs with a royal blue carpet on the floor. The rest of the room was relatively plain with white walls and minimal decor.
Then, in 2015, Charles was back when Barack Obama was leading the country and the room had a slightly more lavish yet still traditional feel. The striped wallpaper and vintage furniture gave it the look of a royal palace, in fact.
Fast forward to 2026 and the room has been decorated with endless gold details under Donald Trump’s Presidency. The space has gold-framed pictures and mirrors as well as gold-trimmed tables and mounted wall decorations. We’re sure King Charles is used to this kind of gilded glamour in his royal palaces back home.
While the midas touch may be magic for some, others weren’t so sure about the glow-up and many Instagram users slated Trump’s decor choices for being too much. Comments included: “Trump and his plastic gold decor,” and: “Oh my gosh it now looks gaudy and tacky, I didn’t realise it looked so bad. Too much is too much.” A third added: “That room is so ugly now, it looks like Vegas or HomeGoods.” “The King is probably thinking ‘I don’t have this much gilding in all of the palaces combined’, one user joked.
© The Washington Post via Getty ImHowever, Trump champions defended the look with some adding fire emojis to express their love of it and another writing: “So much better in 2026! 2026 looks royal.”
King Charles’ landmark state visit
© Getty ImagesDuring their historic four-day state visit to the United States, King Charles III and Queen Camilla are staying at Blair House, the President’s official guest house located across the road from the White House. The King’s itinerary has included a high-profile meeting with President Trump, an address to a joint session of Congress, and a formal state dinner where he was seen toasting with the President and the First Lady. Following the US tour, the King is scheduled to travel to Bermuda, marking his first visit to a British Overseas Territory since his coronation.
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