King Charles is set to jet off on a crucial overseas visit as tensions between the US and UK escalate.
Last September, the royal family hosted US President Trump and the First Lady at Windsor Castle to smooth ties and advance some important trade deals for the British government.
Recently, there were tense exchanges between the US president and British Prime Minister Keir Starmar over Trump’s approach to the Middle East conflict.
Political commentator Iain Dale noted that the “special” relationship between the two nations has been “broken” and is at an “historic low” following Trump’s “insults” to the country.
Keir refused to support Trump’s war, which did not please the US president. However, Trump continued to praise the monarch and expressed his enthusiasm in welcoming him with a grand gesture.
“The monarchy is part of what is called British soft power, the way we influence world leaders and other countries through the monarchy,” he explained.
“And this visit is absolutely essential to use this soft power. »
Strict rules and special bans were put in place because the visit had been months in the making. The briefing for this visit had been “more thorough than for any other state visit he will undertake”.
Since American presidents do not bow, there is a middle ground regarding “bowing and curtsying” and there is coordination to avoid anyone breaking formal guidelines or a “clash of colors or patterns” in their wardrobe.
There is also a gift exchange policy at the White House and Palace. Extensive research is underway to determine what gift should be given to dignitaries, as one wrong move can cause a major upheaval, jeopardizing the entire visit.
