Diplomats are counting on the King to become a ‘key asset’ in forging a positive relationship with President Trump after the Government found itself on the back foot.
They say the Royal Family is a ‘priceless and powerful’ weapon of soft-diplomacy and ‘no other country will have anything similar to deploy’ in building a new ‘special relationship’ with the American leader.
Yesterday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the prospect of a state visit by the President-elect next year would be a ‘tall order’.
But he told the BBC’s Newscast podcast: ‘We want to be generous with our American friends as they will be, I imagine, with us, particularly in a second term.’ It follows critical comments by members of the Government while they were in opposition, including by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Mr Lammy.
In 2017 he called the then President a ‘neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath’, adding: ‘You are not welcome in my country.’ Ms Rayner labelled Trump an ‘absolute buffoon’.
Diplomats are hoping the King will be a ‘key asset’ in the UK government’s relationship with the Trump administration
Charles and Mr Trump have met twice and, while they hold strong differences of opinion over some issues, they have a ‘warm bond’
The Republican Party has also made a legal complaint after Labour sent its activists to campaign against him in the US.
But Whitehall believes it does hold a ‘Trump card’ in every sense of the word: The monarch.
Charles and Mr Trump have met twice and, while they hold strong differences of opinion over issues such as climate change, they have a ‘warm bond’.
In 2019, the then Prince of Wales invited President Trump and his wife Melania to tea with himself and the Duchess of Cornwall. An insider said they all got on ‘extremely well’.
A source with knowledge of the meeting said: ‘In fact, the President left saying what a pleasure it had been to meet, and they stayed in touch for quite a while afterwards.
‘When we have a Government that has been insulting the President-elect, a chancellor struggling to handle threats of tariffs… if ever there were a need to a have a head of state with a non-partisan relationship with him, then now is the time to value it.’
Mr Trump has made no secret of his dislike of the British Government, privately describing Sir Keir Starmer as ‘very Left wing’.
By contrast he adored Queen Elizabeth, calling her a ‘great, great woman’ and has spoken warmly of Charles. His late mother, Mary, was born in Scotland and he has spoken of her admiration for the late Queen.
Mr Trump has called Sir Keir Starmer’s government ‘very Left wing’
However the US President elect spoke of his admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth II, calling her a ‘great, great woman’
A source said: ‘There have been five prime ministers since President Trump last visited the UK.
‘There are very few other countries that have that special connection to a president that outlasts four cycles of their own government. You have a relationship based on a personal connection, not a political one.
‘To have an apolitical connection to the UK when everybody is going to be vying for his attention… having the King there is a huge asset.’
Although the two men do not agree on everything, sources stress that the King is savvy enough to know how to engage without risking personal or diplomatic difficulties. ‘The King will treat Trump with respect and charm,’ one said.
Buckingham Palace did not comment, but a royal source said: ‘The benefit of a warm personal relationship cannot be overestimated. These are priceless relationships.’