During his high-stakes four-day state visit to the US, King Charles will have to tread carefully as the guest of the unpredictable Donald Trump, all while dealing with tensions over Iran and security concerns following Saturday night’s shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner.
He faces many challenges as he takes on the task assigned by the UK government to “reaffirm and renew” bilateral ties, at a time when the “special relationship” is weakening, and as the US marks the 250th anniversary of its independence.
Meanwhile, the lingering issues of Jeffrey Epstein and the Sussexes are never far from the conversation.
1. A tricky visit with an unprecedented level of difficulty
Contemporary political historian Anthony Seldon said the visit, from 27 to 30 April, was “obviously beyond tricky” and came with a “degree of difficulty” far greater than any official visit since the first by a reigning monarch, when George VI met Franklin D Roosevelt to seek support on the eve of World War II. “Because you’re dealing with someone so unpredictable,” Seldon said.
He noted that US-UK relations have gone through tough periods before: Lyndon B Johnson and Harold Wilson, Richard Nixon and Edward Heath, Dwight Eisenhower and Anthony Eden – the latter leading to Eden’s downfall after the Suez crisis. “So it’s a tense moment. But there have been tense moments in the past. And it will be fascinating to see how the monarch handles it.”
Seldon said that since Charles is “probably the one person in the world Trump doesn’t want to offend,” the president would likely stay within certain limits, giving the king “more room to maneuver.”
On what Seldon called “the most important visit of the king’s life,” Charles could “either be very cautious and safe, or he can remind the American people of the principles on which the United States was founded 250 years ago.” He added that the values shared with the UK include a country that moved away from arbitrary power based on the separation of powers, with the Bill of Rights at its core; individual rights, limited government, the rule of law, and Enlightenment values. Not to mention a shared history stretching back centuries.
Prof Philip Murphy, director of history and policy at the University of London, said the risk was greater for Keir Starmer than for Charles, especially after the controversy involving Peter Mandelson and Olly Robbins. “It’s another sign of this desperate desire to court Trump and take really significant risks,” he said.
“They’ve risked the prestige of their head of state and put his dignity in danger by putting him in contact with Trump, who is both hugely controversial and a very tricky person to deal with in public,” Murphy said.
2. King’s security taken ‘very seriously’
Charles’s visit will have “appropriate security in place based on the risk,” a minister said on Sunday, after Donald and Melania Trump were evacuated from the White House correspondents’ dinner on Saturday evening when the event was interrupted by gunfire.
Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that further discussions about the king’s security would take place on Sunday. When asked if that meant an escalation of what had already been planned, he said: “There will be appropriate security in place based on the risk.”
Jones told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News: “As you’d expect, the government and the palace take his majesty’s security very seriously, and there were already extensive discussions taking place, which will continue over the coming days.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed that talks were ongoing, saying: “A number of discussions will take place throughout the day to consult with US colleagues and our respective teams on how the events of Saturday evening may or may not affect the operational planning for the visit.”
3. The king’s most important speech yet
Charles’s address to a joint meeting of Congress will be broadcast internationally and is likely to be one of the most significant speeches of his reign.This is his most important visit yet. According to Buckingham Palace, he will “recognize the challenges that our countries face.” But Trump is famously quick to take offense.
When Queen Elizabeth II addressed Congress in 1991, she said that power that comes “from the barrel of a gun” never grows well “nor for very long.” She also spoke about the importance of NATO, how Europe could become more open, liberal, and aligned with the US, and the importance and value “of the rich ethnic and cultural diversity” of both countries.
“That would be seen as a direct attack on Trump now,” Murphy said. “What Charles will do, I’m sure, is try to appeal to the American public almost over Trump’s head.” He could highlight shared values: belief in freedom, belief in democracy, and a long history of friendship. “It’s almost like saying, without actually saying it, that Trump is here now, but Trump will leave, and there are deeper cultural and political ties that remain. He can do this in a way that a political leader can’t. He can make it seem like the strength of the relationship goes beyond politics.”
Seldon said Charles doesn’t even need to mention Trump, leaving it up to individuals to decide whether the “current head of the US is living up to those values.”
“I think the speech could be very subtle, handled very skillfully, gently, and in a polite and respectful way. The right speech, delivered respectfully, could help. And it can certainly help remind the American people of the deep, profound bonds—intellectual and humane—that unite both countries.”
4. Will private matters stay private?
No doubt with Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s shocking humiliation in mind, Charles’s Oval Office meeting has been arranged to take place in private after a brief photo opportunity. The king, as head of state and of the armed forces, goes into this knowing that Trump has publicly insulted the UK prime minister and mocked the British military. Charles is also king of Canada, a country that has faced serious provocation from Trump.
However the king brings up these issues—if he does at all—he needs to be careful with a president who speaks impulsively and loves talking to cameras and posting on Truth Social. Murphy said: “Charles will be very careful about what he says, because it could easily be reported back. I don’t think Trump has a strong sense of what is private and what isn’t.”
5. The ghost of Epstein and the shadow of the Sussexes
After Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his connection with Jeffrey Epstein, US congressman Ro Khanna and Sky Roberts, brother of the late Virginia Giuffre, urged Charles and especially Camilla to meet with Epstein survivors.
No such meeting will happen, a palace source said, because it could interfere with police investigations and potential legal action, “to the detriment of the survivors themselves in their pursuit of justice.”
If there are protests, the king and queen will be kept away from them. The schedule offers few chances for the couple to interact with the public. A visit to a “block party” in Virginia is likely to be the only one.
Murphy said: “There will clearly be press coverage. There may be some public protests about it. If he walks through crowds, people might call out.”
But many Americans may only have seen recent media coverage of Charles in connection with Epstein or the Sussexes. “So, while there are risks, there’s also a benefit for him here. After a really tough time with Andrew, Harry, and Meghan, he can show that he can actually play a valuable role—a role that goes beyond politics,” Murphy said.
And what about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, living in Montecito on the West Coast, nearly 3,000 miles from Washington DC? It’s understood there are no plans for a father-son reunion during the visit. The best the palace can hope for is that Harry doesn’t give any poorly timed, soul-baring interviews, especially about his royal upbringing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about potential pitfalls during King Charless visit with Donald Trump written in a natural tone with clear answers
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Why would a state visit with Trump be risky for King Charles
The main risk is that Trump is known for being unpredictable and blunt He might say something offscript break royal protocol or make a political comment that puts the King in an awkward position
2 Whats the biggest protocol mistake Trump could make
The most likely one is physical contact Youre not supposed to touch the monarch Trump has a habit of patting people on the back or grabbing arms If he does that to the King it makes headlines and looks disrespectful
3 Could Trump accidentally embarrass the King in public
Yes Trump might make a joke that falls flat complain about the food or the weather or bring up a controversial topic during a toast or a photo op
4 What happens if Trump says something rude about the UK or the Royal Family
The King has to stay neutral He cant defend himself or argue back He would have to smile and change the subject which could make him look weak or uncomfortable on camera
IntermediateLevel Questions
5 Is there a risk of a giftgate scandal like with the Obama slippers
Absolutely If Trump gives King Charles a tacky or inappropriate gift it could be seen as an insult Conversely if the King gives a very valuable gift to Trump critics will accuse him of pandering
6 Could Trump use the visit to criticize the UKs trade or immigration policies
Yes Trump loves to go offscript He could use a joint press conference or a casual remark to attack the UKs stance on tariffs the Chagos Islands or even Prince Harry This would force the King into a silent awkward corner
7 What about the family drama angle Will Trump mention Meghan Markle
This is a big worry Trump has a history of insulting Meghan Markle If he brings her up during the visiteven jokinglyit could reignite the royal rift and make the King look like he cant
