Donald Trump repeatedly pressed Queen Elizabeth II for gossip about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during a state visit in 2019, according to a new book. The former US president also tried to get the late monarch to name her favourite American leader, but she refused to be drawn.
The book, 'The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History' by Susan Page, details Trump's persistent questioning. 'I asked her about it constantly,' Trump is quoted as saying. 'I'd say, “Come on, tell me [what you really think].”' He claimed the Queen was hurt by the fallout in the royal family, adding, 'I just don't think they treated her with the respect that she should have, frankly.'
Trump also attempted to elicit the Queen's opinion on the 14 US presidents she had met. When he asked who her favourite was, she replied, 'Why? They were all so good.' Trump later speculated that he was her favourite, a claim met with scepticism by former first ladies Jill Biden and Hillary Clinton.
The book's publication comes amid strained UK-US relations, with a senior UK lawmaker calling for King Charles's planned state visit to the US to be delayed. Despite tensions, the White House is expected to announce the visit this week.
