King Charles made Melania Trump giggle while visiting the new White House beehive as the monarch attempted to renew fractious Anglo-American relations.
Charles and Camilla, together with President Donald Trump and his wife, viewed the beehive in the shape of the White House that the First Lady had installed last week.
The beehive on the lawn appeared to fascinate the King and Queen, who are both keen apiarists and have sold their own homegrown honey for charity over the years.
Formally established in 2009, the beekeeping programme supports the pollination of nearby gardens while serving as an ‘enduring feature’ of the White House grounds.
The honey is used in preparing food at the White House, as well as serving as official gifts from the Trumps and supporting charitable donations to local food kitchens.
The beehive is also intended to be an educational feature and give South Lawn visitors the chance to look at a working colony and learn about pollination.
Before the new beehive was installed, the existing two hive populations could reach 70,000 bees, producing up to 225 pounds of honey in a good summer.
The latest addition will allow production to increase to up to 255 pounds of honey, with the produce known for light clover and basswood flavor, with a hint of citrus.
King Charles III makes Melania Trump laugh at the new White House beehive yesterday
The King and Melania Trump laugh as they tour the White House beehive on the South Lawn
King Charles and Queen Camilla with Donald and Melania Trump at the White House beehive
The Trumps tour the South Lawn of the White House with the King and Queen yesterday
Charles and Camilla with Donald and Melania Trump as they view the White House beehive
King Charles and Queen Camilla with Donald and Melania Trump at the White House beehive
Donald and Melania Trump walk on the South Lawn with King Charles and Queen Camilla
Yesterday, Charles and Camilla began their four-day state visit by sitting down with their American hosts in the President’s famous residence in Washington DC.
The two couples greeted each other outside by the historic building’s south portico overlooking the lawns where past presidents have hosted Queen Elizabeth II.
The start of the trip – Charles’ first to America as King – has been overshadowed by the attempted assassination of Mr Trump on Saturday night at a Washington dinner when he was surrounded by secret service agents and bundled from the room.
The King privately contacted the Trumps to express his and the Queen’s sympathies with all those affected on the night, and their gratitude to the security services.
The visit is the most important foreign trip of the King’s reign so far as it comes during a pivotal moment for the UK and US, with relations between the Prime Minister and US President Donald Trump fractious.
Mr Trump has branded the UK’s approach to the Iran war ‘terrible’ and repeatedly lashed out at Sir Keir Starmer – at one point describing him as ‘not Winston Churchill’.
And reports have suggested the US could review its position on the Falkland Islands in retaliation for Sir Keir’s lack of support for the war in Iran.
The monarchy’s soft power diplomacy is its strongest weapon in support of the UK’s overseas interests and there will be hope in Downing Street that Charles and Camilla can help put the UK-US special relationship on a firmer footing.