One of the few foreign institutions that, at least for now, has not been targeted by any verbal attacks from Donald Trump since his return to the White House is the British Monarchy. On the contrary, the Republican and his inner circle do not spare praise for the Windsors. "Our father and our entire family have a tremendous respect for the royal family. I believe that what it represents and symbolizes is one of the greatest and most beautiful things about the UK," recently stated Eric Trump, the president's son, to the Daily Mail.
It was assumed, therefore, that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had decided weeks ago to use the most powerful weapon of mass seduction at his disposal with Trump, in a blatant attempt to restore and even enhance the historic "special relationship" between Washington and London, at a time when it is not an easy task.
The weapon in question is a formal invitation to the President of the United States to visit the UK. But not just any invitation, but one from Charles III in the form of a State Visit - with all the pomp and circumstance that entails - which Prime Minister Keir Starmer handed to his host in the US capital as soon as they were seated in the Oval Office. The British monarch emphasizes in the letter, in his own handwriting, that this new invitation for a State Visit, the second for him, is "unprecedented" for a US president. And Trump, who appeared as proud as a peacock, immediately accepted the invitation, stating that he will attend with his wife Melania to "honor the king and the country."
This is an invitation as unusual as it is extraordinary because Trump already made a trip to London with the highest protocol. And the tradition of the British Monarchy dictates that this deference is not extended twice to the same leader.
But unofficial sources close to Buckingham had been hinting for weeks that, with Charles III's ascension to the throne in 2022, the slate was wiped clean, and therefore, it was not unusual to roll out the red carpet for Trump again in his second term. However, the gesture has also been emphasized because the goal is for the White House tenant to feel special, feel pampered, and feel, in simple terms, flattered. After all, Starmer finds himself in an uncomfortable position of weakness and London must make amends for some past offenses to the magnate.
In that sense, British media like Mirror have reported that Charles III could invite Trump to stay at Balmoral Castle (Scotland). This would be a way to give the possible trip a very special character. For many reasons. First, because the place where the late Queen Elizabeth II felt happiest is the Windsor's refuge, the property that inspires them the most freedom and where they relax during the summer holidays, and where they only invite leaders - including British Prime Ministers - when they seek to create a maximum level of intimacy. The meeting held in Balmoral in 1959 between President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the monarch was described as historic. Both, by the way, maintained a great friendship through letters until the death of the former.
Additionally, due to Trump's Scottish roots - his mother immigrated from there to the US, where she always held a deep admiration for the British sovereign that the president likes to recall - he owns a large sports complex on the Scottish coast that includes a famous golf course he particularly enjoys visiting.
Starmer is not a pioneer among British leaders in leveraging the royal family's soft power as a top-level tool in the government's foreign policy. And it is not difficult to imagine what it must represent for someone with Trump's personality to now be courted by Downing Street with a reception akin to Welcome Mr. Marshall when in his previous term the British treated him with considerable disdain. In 2018, the Trump couple visited England at the invitation of then-Prime Minister Theresa May, but the Republican did not hide his frustration that it was not a State Visit. He achieved it a year later. But there were also slights to the American friend, such as the British Parliament's refusal to allow him to address the Chambers, an offer usually extended to leaders considered more illustrious.
Trump must find it amusing to see that things would now be diametrically opposite. In this regard, the current Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, already hinted at Christmas that he would not hesitate to invite Trump to address the House, all to prepare the warmest possible landing on the London scene.
The diplomatic machinery between London and Washington to prepare a possible trip for Trump has been in full swing for weeks, with figures like Simon McDonald, a member of the House of Lords and the highest-ranking official at the British Foreign Office during the Republican's first term, pushing for it to become a reality. Trump said of the State banquet he shared with Queen Elizabeth II that he "had not had so much fun in the last quarter of a century." He described the queen as "a fantastic woman", while he has always praised the current king as "a really good person." In Washington, where the fascination with the British monarchy never fades, there have been signs in recent weeks of great interest in receiving the Prince of Wales, William and Catherine. Shortly before taking office, Trump met with the British Heir in December at the UK embassy in Paris - where they coincided during the summit of world leaders attending the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. The then President-elect described William as "a good guy who is doing a magnificent job."
Celebrations for the 250th anniversary of independence
On British soil, speculation is not only about the upcoming warm welcome for Trump. There are also talks of confidential contacts between administrations that are already underway to prepare a reverse trip, one that would be made next year by King Charles III and Camilla, or alternatively the Heir, to participate in the commemorations for the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States.
During his campaign, a Trump who already felt like a winner promised that if he returned to the White House, he would organize the most "spectacular" celebrations. And nothing would give more cachet to the celebrations than having as a guest the current occupant of the throne where George III once sat. Especially when today Trump sees himself as the emperor of the globe and even the British monarch is aware that he is but one of his vassals.