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Topics: King Charles III, Donald Trump, UK News, US News, Royal Family, Iran
Greg Harris
Topics: King Charles III, Donald Trump, UK News, US News, Royal Family, Iran
Buckingham Palace has issued a response after President Donald Trump claimed King Charles ‘agrees’ with him regarding Iran.
Since February, the United States and Israel have been engaged in a war with Iran. One key point of contention has been Iran’s nuclear program, with Donald Trump repeatedly asserting that the country must not acquire a nuclear weapon.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla are on a four-day state visit to the US.
When speaking during a formal state dinner on Tuesday evening (April 28), Trump said the US would ‘never’ allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, and suggested that King Charles shared the same view.
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During his speech at the White House dinner, the president said: “We’re doing a little Middle East work right now … and we’re doing very well.
“We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we’re never going to let that opponent ever, Charles agrees with me even more than I do, we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon.
“They know that, and they’ve known it right now, very powerfully.”
As the head of state, King Charles III is expected to remain politically neutral.
He did not speak about Iran or the Iran war in his own comments after Trump's speech.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson has now issued a statement: “The King is naturally mindful of his Government’s long-standing and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation.”
Earlier on Tuesday, King Charles and President Trump sat down for bilateral talks. When questioned by the media after, Trump said: “It was a really good meeting. He’s a fantastic person. They’re incredible people and it’s a real honor.”
One area of discussion in Charles III’s state dinner speech was the strength of UK–US relations.
He emphasised the importance of maintaining close ties between the two countries, drawing comparisons to past moments of strain and cooperation, including the period following the Suez Crisis, after which Queen Elizabeth II visited the United States.
King Charles addressed guests at the dinner, which included the likes of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and pro golfer Rory McIlroy, saying: “And yes, we have had our moments of difficulty, even in more recent history. When my mother visited in 1957, not the least of her tasks was to help put the ‘special’ back into our relationship after a crisis in the Middle East.”
On Monday afternoon, Donald and Melania Trump welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla at the South Portico of the White House. The president and first lady hosted a private tea for the royals before giving them a tour of the newly expanded White House beehive on the South Lawn.
They later attended a garden party at the British ambassador's residence in Washington, with around 650 people representing the UK and US in attendance. Up to 3,000 sandwiches were prepared for the occasion, with guests ranging from Trump administration officials to retired British diver Tom Daley.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to stay at Blair House, the official guesthouse across from the White House, during their state visit.
On Tuesday morning, the president and first lady hosted a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House to formally welcome Their Majesties, featuring a traditional military arrival ceremony and a speech from Trump.
The King and POTUS participated in a bilateral meeting to discuss the US and UK's relations. At the same time, the Queen and the first lady joined students for an educational event at the White House Tennis Pavilion.
King Charles also delivered a speech to both houses of the US Congress, making him the second British monarch to do so after his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s speech during her 1991 state visit.
A State Dinner was held in the evening, where the monarch and Trump gave speeches.
On Wednesday, King Charles and Queen Camilla will travel to the Big Apple to attend a 9/11 memorial at One World Trade Center. They will also meet with the first responders and families of victims in the 2001 attacks.
The King will then visit a community organisation and attend a meeting with senior business leaders, while the Queen will head to a literary event to mark the 100th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh.
For the final day of their state visit, the royals will return to the White House to bid a formal goodbye to the president and first lady.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will then make their way to Virginia to visit a national park and attend community events celebrating the 250th anniversary of US independence.
The Palace says His Majesty will then travel to Bermuda to undertake his first royal visit as Monarch to a British Overseas Territory.