King Charles III may not have been physically present at the Oval Office last Thursday, but his influence significantly shaped the meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This meeting, rather than being a high-stakes negotiation concerning Ukraine, felt more akin to a sociable exchange between two Renaissance courts.
From the moment Mr. Starmer retrieved an embossed letter from his pocket and delivered it to Mr. Trump, an invitation from the King for the President to visit Britain, the tension appeared to dissipate, transforming the meeting into a friendlier, albeit less pivotal, encounter.
President Trump, after reviewing the two-page letter signed “Charles R” in a bold, oversized script reminiscent of his own signatures on executive orders, warmly acknowledged Mr. Starmer and the invitation.
Prime Minister Starmer highlighted the diplomatic significance of the invitation, noting that Mr. Trump would be the first leader in modern times to be honored with two state visits to Britain. He underscored that this has never occurred before, marking a unique moment in UK-U.S. relations.
Beyond this, there was a strategic dimension to Mr. Starmer’s actions. Recognizing Mr. Trump’s affinity for the British monarchy, which was evident from his previous state visit in 2019 and his recent tendency to refer to himself in royal terms, Mr. Starmer astutely utilized the monarchy as a diplomatic tool aiming to bridge or at least smooth over the looming rift between the U.S., Britain, and Europe regarding the stance on Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
The meeting corresponded with an epochal divide on Ukraine policy, with Mr. Trump leaning towards a different approach than his British and European allies. Mr. Starmer seemed to leverage the royal invitation, along with the prospect of avoiding American tariffs and a deal on the Chagos Islands, to soften this divide.
Upon his return to London, Mr. Starmer was lauded, even by typically critical right-wing media, for his diplomatic maneuvers. The agreement regarding the Chagos Islands could mute opposition criticisms, and Mr. Trump’s indication of potential tariff exemptions for Britain represented a success for Mr. Starmer’s strategy.
However, Mr. Starmer made little progress on his chief concern: securing a U.S. security guarantee for British and European troops in potential future peacekeeping operations in Ukraine. Mr. Trump expressed confidence in Vladimir Putin keeping his word in a peace deal, dismissing the need for explicit guarantees.
Despite falling short on this critical agenda item, Mr. Starmer’s approach showcased a rebranded British leadership willing to support Ukraine and confront major global challenges. The meeting afforded Mr. Starmer a patriotic and diplomatic persona, signaling a transformation in his political identity beyond economic policy.
At the White House, Mr. Starmer’s demeanor as a courtier for the king, contrasted with his earlier views on the monarchy. His acceptance of a knighthood from Charles and his handling of questions demonstrated a pragmatic shift similar to his diplomatic engagement with Mr. Trump, highlighting the complexities of balancing personal history with political pragmatism.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/world/europe/trump-starmer-king-charles.html
