As tensions between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer escalate, King Charles III faces a diplomatic minefield during his historic visit to Washington this week. The first British sovereign to visit the US in nearly two decades, the King is tasked with smoothing over cracks in the transatlantic alliance. However, plans are afoot to cause maximum embarrassment to both sides, writes Alex Hannaford.
A Fraught Diplomatic Landscape
In February last year, Sir Keir presented Trump with a letter from the King inviting him for a second state visit, a move seen as a masterstroke of pragmatic diplomacy. But since then, relations have soured dramatically. Trump has warned Starmer that the US will not help the UK in the Iran war, and has favoured Argentina's case over the Falklands. He also described the prime minister as no Winston Churchill, branding the discord as 'very sad'.
The royal visit, which includes a state dinner at the White House and an address to Congress, marks the 250th anniversary of American independence. Yet the pomp and ceremony may not be enough to paper over the cracks.
The Epstein Shadow
Compounding the King's challenges is a family crisis. In February, his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his ties to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The arrest reignited the Epstein scandal just as Charles prepares to meet Trump, who was once part of Epstein's social circle.
US Representative Robert Garcia has called for Mountbatten-Windsor to testify before Congress, describing the arrest as an 'enormous step forward'. He accused the Trump administration of a 'cover-up' and demanded the King meet Epstein's victims and urge his brother to cooperate. The Palace statement expressing sympathy for abuse victims may not suffice.
Threats of Humiliation
Steve Schmidt, former Republican strategist and founder of The Save America Movement, is leading a campaign to humiliate the King if the visit proceeds. He warns of billboards in Times Square linking Charles, Camilla, Trump, Melania, Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell, and references the 'Tampongate' scandal. Schmidt argues that the King is being used as a propaganda tool for an authoritarian administration.
'The first British sovereign to step foot on American soil was George VI in 1938, when Franklin Roosevelt curated a visit to build an alliance against fascism,' Schmidt says. 'Now, Trump intends to use Charles as propaganda.' He promises a public relations disaster exceeding anything the Crown has known.
Congressional Pressure
Lawmakers are also ready to act. While Congress cannot compel a foreign citizen to testify, a subpoena could be issued if Mountbatten-Windsor enters the US. A Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty could also petition British courts for a deposition. If Democrats regain control of Congress in November, the Epstein hearings could intensify.
Royal Soft Power
Despite the hostility, Charles has a track record of deft diplomacy. Last year, after Trump clashed with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the King quietly invited the Ukrainian leader to Sandringham, signalling solidarity without public rebuke. He also stripped his brother of titles and privileges, demonstrating a willingness to prioritise institutional integrity.
The King is banking on American royalists who view the monarchy as a symbol of stability. Whether he can use that heritage to mend ties with Trump and win over the nation remains uncertain. The stakes are high, and the endgame unknown.
