King Charles III will be spared a potentially awkward public meeting in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump during his upcoming state visit to the United States at the end of this month. This decision comes as officials aim to minimise any diplomatic embarrassment for the monarchy, following a series of excruciating encounters between Trump and other world leaders in that setting.
Private Meetings Replace Public Oval Office Encounter
Rather than an on-camera head-to-head, the King and President will first meet for a private tea shortly after Charles arrives in Washington DC. This will be followed by another closed-door meeting at the White House the next day, with no media present. This contrasts sharply with the experiences of leaders like Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, who was famously ambushed by Trump and JD Vance, or Japan's Prime Minister, who faced insults referencing Pearl Harbour.
Trump's Praise and Diplomatic Distinctions
President Trump has attempted to dispel concerns about the meeting, recently telling Sky News that King Charles is a "wonderful person" and a "great gentleman." He emphasised that his strained relationship with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer would not affect the visit, insisting the King is "not involved in that process." Trump added, "I've known him for a long time. He's wonderful."
Broadcast Elements and Public Engagements
While the Oval Office meeting is off the table, certain aspects of the visit will be public. King Charles's address to a joint meeting of Congress—only the second by a British monarch, following Queen Elizabeth in 1991—will be broadcast on American television. Both he and Trump will also deliver prepared speeches at the extravagant White House State Dinner.
The visit, scheduled from April 27-30, will include stops in Washington DC, New York, and Virginia. Notably, traditional "walkabouts" have been omitted from the programme on security advice, but there will be carefully managed public engagements. Queen Camilla will meet with domestic and sexual abuse survivors, though meetings with Jeffrey Epstein survivors have been firmly ruled out to avoid interfering with UK police investigations.
Commemorations and Cultural Events
In New York, the royal couple will commemorate the victims of the 9/11 attacks, meeting first responders and families. The King will visit a community organisation addressing child food insecurity through urban farming, while the Queen will attend a literary event celebrating Winnie the Pooh's 100th birthday. The visit concludes with a reception for the King's Trust charity.
Strategic Objectives and Soft Power
A Buckingham Palace spokesman acknowledged the visit comes at a perilous time for the UK-US "special relationship," noting it has been planned for nearly a year to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Sources emphasised the monarchy's role in building alliances through "soft power," even in challenging circumstances. An FCDO spokesman added that disagreements, such as Trump's criticism of UK policy on Iran, do not detract from the long-standing value of the relationship.
After the US visit, King Charles will travel solo to Bermuda for two days, where he will address the transatlantic slave trade by viewing a museum exhibition. Throughout, the focus remains on leveraging the monarchy's diplomatic influence to strengthen ties, despite the potential for awkward moments with President Trump.
