This is why I think the King's US state visit will be his biggest challenge yet
HELLO's Royal Editor Emily Nash has landed in Washington to accompany the King and Queen on their US State Visit
Hi Royal Clubbers. I arrived in the US last night for this week’s high-stakes state visit before attending a briefing at the British Embassy (who needs sleep?!). In truth, it’s hard to think of a trip that has felt as fraught with potential complications as the one the King and Queen will embark on today. Amid ongoing tensions between President Trump and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the continuing conflict in Iran and, less than 48 hours after a gunman attempted to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, there has been a degree of unease about what lies ahead.
That’s why many of us believe it is likely to be the most challenging of the monarch’s reign so far. In fact, I can’t remember an overseas visit where we journalists have felt the same sense of uncertainty about what may unfold. But despite understandable security concerns in the aftermath of Saturday night’s gun attack, the show must go on. I’m told the King’s view is very much one of “keep calm and carry on” and that’s exactly what he will do.
After discussions throughout Saturday night and Sunday, the trip is going ahead as planned, barring a few small security adjustments. “The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the visit getting underway,” said a Palace spokesman.
'I’m told the King’s view is very much one of “keep calm and carry on” and that’s exactly what he will do.'
Last-minute security changes
Ahead of their arrival, the UK’s new ambassador to Washington, Christian Turner, said: “Our respective security teams have been in close touch for weeks, and if there are any operational changes we have to make, we can make them as we go, and we are all very confident that all appropriate security measures are in place. So now we’re focused on the programme ahead of us and looking forward to it getting underway.” Security chiefs will be able to make changes to the programme at any point should further concerns arise.
But there are several reasons why, despite the slight sense of trepidation that surrounds the trip, I think it will all run like clockwork. Despite his fractious relationship with Sir Keir, the President is a huge fan of the King and has described him variously as “a fantastic man”, “a brave man” and “a great man”, which bodes well for a harmonious reunion. And let’s not forget that both the Royal Household and the White House are supremely well-versed in staging a soft-diplomatic spectacle.
King Charles, meanwhile, is the consummate global statesman, having been a visitor to the White House since 1970 and with a lifetime of experience spending time with world leaders. This will be his 20th visit to the US, but his first as King. This visit, to mark the 250th anniversary of Independence, has been many years in the planning and will echo the late Queen Elizabeth’s 1976 visit to celebrate the bicentennial.
As Ambassador Turner made clear last night, it aims to celebrate a relationship that transcends the individuals involved in present day politics or diplomacy. “This relationship has changed enormously since the Declaration of Independence in 1776 but the state visit is not about the past, it’s about renewing and revitalizing a unique friendship and supporting the long UK-US relationship to thrive into the next 250 years,” he said.
So when the King and the Queen touch down this afternoon to begin their four-day stay in the United States, their focus will be on honouring that shared history, as well as the current friendship between both nations. And they will do their bit for soft diplomacy as they always do…
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