For King Charles, this could be his greatest challenge |
For King Charles, this could be his greatest challenge
April 26, 2026 — 1:40pm
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When King Charles makes his much-anticipated visit to Washington this week as part of the commemorations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, it will be his first visit to the United States since he ascended the throne in 2022.
He can expect the warmest of welcomes from Donald Trump.
Differences over the war in Iran may have soured the president’s relationship with His Majesty’s government, but Trump remains an ardent admirer of the King, whom he implausibly describes as “a good friend of mine”. With the recent fall of Viktor Orban, and Trump’s excruciating dispute with the Pope, it is arguable that King Charles is the only European leader – whether head of government or head of state – with whom the president still has a good relationship. Other than Vladimir Putin, of course.
Notwithstanding the scandals which have tarnished the reputation of some other members of the royal family, the Crown is still – by far – Britain’s greatest soft-power asset. Few leaders, regardless of where they sit on the political spectrum, are immune to the bewitching power of British royalty. Even Malcolm Turnbull, asked by a journalist after his audience with the late Queen whether he was still a republican, gallantly replied, “I am an Elizabethan.” (When I told Her Majesty that anecdote during my own audience some time later,........