Donald Trump has a great affection for the British monarchy, for some reason. I think he likes all of the opulence, the gold, the jewels and all of the medieval castles. He was a huge fan of Queen Elizabeth II, even if she reportedly hated his guts and justifiably found him rude and unpleasant. It’s sort of a different story with King Charles. For some reason, Trump is wild about Charles too, even if Trump spent a good chunk of the ‘90s bad-mouthing Charles and Camilla, and trying to sleep with Princess Diana. Well, now Tom Sykes asks, in his Royalist Substack, whether Charles will be able to keep his poker face when Trump visits the UK next month.
Trump returns on September 17–19, 2025, for the honor of a second state visit, and will be staying at Windsor Castle. Hosting Trump at Windsor carries a degree of intimacy Elizabeth never offered. The question is whether Charles, more scrutable than his mother, can mask his distaste. He lacks the poker face Elizabeth perfected across seventy years of service. Palace insiders have already told me they are concerned that Trump might use the occasion to launch into an unfiltered rant about immigration, an issue on which he has already claimed that a “horrible invasion” is “killing Europe.”
Civil servants fear that he could even upend protocol by delivering politicized remarks while standing alongside the king, whose entire public life has been devoted to themes of tolerance and compassion.
Hanging over it all is the inescapable contrast: Barack Obama, welcomed for three nights at Buckingham Palace in 2011, later dropping by Kensington Palace in 2016, where he was greeted by a pajama-clad Prince George in his monogrammed bathrobe, a moment of genuine warmth and ease. Against that tableau, Trump remains the outsider, received with courtesy but never embraced.
Charles is currently at Birkhall, his house in Scotland, relaxing and no doubt preparing himself for the Trump state visit. I’m quite sure Charles will discharge his duties, and make nice with Trump seamlessly. But when the doors close and the visitors disperse, one wonders whether he too will confide, as his mother once did, that he found the man very rude indeed.
The thing is, QEII never hid her distaste for Trump – it was obvious from the way she treated the Trumps that she would only give them the bare minimum of what was required of her. For the Trumps’ visits during her reign, she made Charles and Camilla entertain them for the most part – there was a famous moment where C&C had to host the Trumps for dinner at Clarence House, and Camilla was photographed with a big glass of wine front and center. Honestly, though, Camilla is just as crude and graceless as Donny Dementia, which is probably why the two couples manage to get along.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
-
- PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND – JUNE 05: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and US President Donald Trump attend a function during the D-day 75 Commemorations on June 05, 2019 in Portsmouth, England. The political heads of 16 countries involved in World War II joined Her Majesty, The Queen on the UK south coast for a service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Overnight it was announced that all 16 had signed an historic proclamation of peace to ensure the horrors of the Second World War are never repeated. The text has been agreed by Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.,Image: 536152874, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR SEVEN DAYS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – [email protected] London: 44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: 1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: 49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
-
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 03: First lady Melania Trump, US President Donald Trump and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend Tea at Clarence House on December 03, 2019 in London, England. President Trump is in the UK to attend the NATO Leaders Summit, marking the 70th anniversary of the organisation.,Image: 541105370, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR SEVEN DAYS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – [email protected] London: 44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: 1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: 49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon
-
-
USA Rights Only – London, UK -20190604-President Donald Trump and Melania Trump Attend Return Dinner During UK Visit
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall with US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania with US Ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson and his wife Suzanne Ircha at Winfield House, the residence of the Ambassador of the United States of America to the UK, in Regent’s Park, London, for the Return Dinner as part of his state visit to the UK.-PICTURED: President Donald Trump and Prince Charles
-PHOTO by: Chris Jackson/PA Images/INSTARimages.com
-43320929.jpgThis is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Instar Images LLC for licensing fee and rights information at [email protected] or call 1 212 414 0207 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Instar Images LLC reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded
Featuring: President Donald Trump and Prince Charles
Where: London, England, United Kingdom
When: 04 Jun 2019
Credit: Chris Jackson/PA Images/INSTARimages.com**USA Rights Only**
-
-
USA Rights Only – London, UK -20190604- Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, Charles Prince of Wales, President Donald Trump and Melania Trump attend the Return Dinner at the ambassador’s residence at Winfield House in Regent’s Park as part of the President’s state visit.
-PICTURED: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Charles, Prince of Wales, President Donald Trump, Melania Trump
-PHOTO by: Victoria Jones/PA Images/INSTARimages.com
-43319835.jpgThis is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Instar Images LLC for licensing fee and rights information at [email protected] or call 1 212 414 0207 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Instar Images LLC reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded
Featuring: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Charles, Prince of Wales, President Donald Trump, Melania Trump
Where: London, England, United Kingdom
When: 04 Jun 2019
Credit: Victoria Jones/PA Images/INSTARimages.com**USA Rights Only**
-
-
USA Rights Only – London, UK -20190604- Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, Charles Prince of Wales, President Donald Trump and Melania Trump attend the Return Dinner at the ambassador’s residence at Winfield House in Regent’s Park as part of the President’s state visit.
-PICTURED: Charles, Prince of Wales, President Donald Trump
-PHOTO by: Victoria Jones/PA Images/INSTARimages.com
-43319521.jpgThis is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Instar Images LLC for licensing fee and rights information at [email protected] or call 1 212 414 0207 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Instar Images LLC reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded
Featuring: Charles, Prince of Wales, President Donald Trump
Where: London, England, United Kingdom
When: 04 Jun 2019
Credit: Victoria Jones/PA Images/INSTARimages.com**USA Rights Only**
-
-
Day Four of Royal Ascot Meeting 2025 Ascot
Featuring: King Charles III
Where: Ascot, United Kingdom
When: 20 Jun 2025
Credit: Cover Images
-
-
Day Four of Royal Ascot Meeting 2025 Ascot
Featuring: Queen Camilla and King Charles III
Where: Ascot, United Kingdom
When: 20 Jun 2025
Credit: Cover Images
-
-
US President Donald Trump with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima during a photo moment in Palace Huis ten Bosch. Trump spent the night during the NATO summit at the royal couple in Paleis Huis ten Bosch palace.
Featuring: US President Donald Trump with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima
Where: Den Haag, Nederland
When: 25 Jun 2025
Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images**NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NETHERLANDS OR FRANCE**
-
-
President Donald Trump during a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, at Trump Turnberry golf course during Trump’s five-day private trip to the country
Featuring: President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
Where: Aberdeen, United Kingdom
When: 28 Jul 2025
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
-
-
President Donald Trump during a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, at Trump Turnberry golf course during Trump’s five-day private trip to the country
Featuring: President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
Where: Aberdeen, United Kingdom
When: 28 Jul 2025
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
-
- LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 04: US First Lady Melania Trump, Suzanne Ircha, wife of the US Ambassador to London and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall smile as they attend a dinner at Winfield House, during the state visit by US President Donald Trump on June 04, 2019 in London, England. President Trump’s three-day state visit began with lunch with the Queen, followed by a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, whilst today he attended business meetings with the Prime Minister and the Duke of York, before traveling to Portsmouth to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. (
-
- US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania (left) at Clarence House in London to take tea with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall on the first day of his state visit to the UK.


