More than two centuries after the Boston Tea Party made tea a symbol of rebellion, a clunky cup at the White House quietly infused its own diplomatic moment.
In 1981, while King Charles was still Prince of Wales, he visited Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office.
A tea party quickly turned into an awkward moment when it arrived with the tea bag still inside.
Totally normal in the United States, but for a member of the British royal family, it’s not quite a done deal.
According to royal author David Charter, Reagan quickly realized something was wrong.
The future king held the cup politely, clearly unsure how to proceed, before finally setting it down intact.
Reagan later admitted in his diary that he feared he had made a social faux pas, writing that he didn’t really know how to recover from the moment.
Charles, for his part, reportedly admitted that he wasn’t sure what to do with it either.
A few years later, in 1985, Charles returned to Washington with Princess Diana for their first joint visit to the United States, this time without any tea-related uncertainty overshadowing the proceedings.
Instead, the trip became one of the most memorable royal visits in modern history, featuring a glittering party at the White House where Diana danced with John Travolta.
King Charles is set to return to the White House once again, this time alongside Queen Camilla for a state visit marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
