Washington DC, April 29 (ANI) — During the state visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the United States, former President Donald Trump said he was “jealous” of the King’s speech and shared a personal memory of his mother’s affection for the Royal Family, including what he described as a childhood “crush” on the then-Prince Charles.
At the White House greeting ceremony, Trump welcomed the Royal Couple, praised the weather and recalled a visit to Windsor Castle with Melania. He told guests they would have “a wonderful short stay,” and complimented the King’s speech to Congress and his “beautiful accent,” calling Charles “a very elegant man.” Trump added, “He made a great speech! I was very jealous.”
Midway through his remarks, Trump compared his parents’ long marriage to his own, noting that his mother, Mary MacLeod, and father, Fred, were married for 63 years and joking that he and Melania “won’t be able to match” that record. He then shared memories of his mother, who was born in Stornoway, Scotland, saying she “loved the Royal Family” and would watch royal ceremonies closely. “I also remember her saying very clearly, ‘Charles, look. Young Charles, he’s so cute.’ My mother had a crush on Charles,” he said.
King Charles, with customary poise, referenced shared naval connections and presented Trump with a personal gift: the original bell from HMS Trump, a 1944-launched vessel that served with the 4th Submarine Squadron in Australia. “May it stand as a testimony to our nations’ shared history and shining future,” the King said.
Charles addressed a joint session of Congress — only the second British monarch to do so — and, according to The New York Times, rejected any suggestion he was engaged in “some cunning rear-guard action.” He spoke on issues affecting both countries, noting how the freedoms and vibrancy of each society support victims of “some of the ills that, so tragically, exist in both our societies today,” a likely reference to recent scandals affecting both the Royal Family and, at times, the Trump administration.
Observers noted a more restrained tone from Trump during the visit: he did not invite a large contingent of reporters into the Oval Office beforehand and refrained from publicly attacking other allies while the Royal Couple was present. The visit unfolded amid strained UK–US relations, with the King implicitly pushing back at earlier criticisms from Trump — including comments involving UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Royal Navy — and emphasizing environmental stewardship, praising America’s natural wonders and the shared responsibility to protect nature, a contrast with Trump’s prior withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.
Trump has also publicly criticized NATO allies, at times calling partners “cowards,” and circulated media that mocked Starmer, including sharing a UK sketch. (ANI)
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