On King Charles and Queen Camilla's second day in the US capital, the royal couple were welcomed with pomp and ceremony outside the White House. Donald Trump greeted them with a speech in which he spoke warmly of the countries' close relationship.
"In the centuries since we won our independence, no one has been closer to us Americans than the British," he assured.
The words are similar to the remarks Trump gave during his visit to the UK in September, when he likened the relationship to “two lines of a poem,” but a far cry from the words in March, when he said that:
It's very sad that the relationship is clearly not what it was.
Speech to Congress
King Charles will speak to Congress later on Tuesday, and according to British media, is expected to seek to pour oil on troubled waters and say that "time and time again, our countries have always found ways to unite."
The conciliatory words may be needed. On Tuesday, the Financial Times published comments by Britain's newly appointed ambassador to the United States, Christian Turner, that are not as conciliatory.
"There is probably only one country that has a special relationship with the United States, and that is Israel," he told British students in February, according to the newspaper.
"Our relationship will continue, and you can call it “special,” but I think it will be different."
Mom's enthusiasm
In his speech to the royal couple, Trump also spoke of his admiration for Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and his own Scottish mother's love for the British royal family. He also joked that his late mother Mary Anne once had a crush on a young Prince Charles.
Can you imagine? I wonder what she would have said if she saw us now?
He did not, however, address the British newspaper Daily Mail's report that he is very distantly related to the royal family. But on his platform Truth Social, he wrote earlier in the day that:
"Oh, how nice. I've always wanted to live in Buckingham Palace!"
