London (United Kingdom) – In just four days of visit by King Charles III, Donald Trump appears to have turned the page after weeks of diplomatic tension over Keir Starmer's refusal to support the United States and Israel's bombing of Iran. The affair brought the transatlantic relationship to one of its lowest points since 1956.

First modification: 05/03/2026 - 21:40

Minutes after Charles III said goodbye to Donald Trump in the White House, the president, true to his style, announced via Truth Social that, “in honor” of the kings, he was eliminating tariffs and restrictions on whiskey, the Scottish industry par excellence and fundamental for the British economy, whose exports to the United States fell 15% since Trump himself imposed tariffs on them.

"The king and queen got me to do something that no one else had been able to do, almost without asking me! A great honor to have them both in the United States," Trump highlighted on his Truth Social account.

And without a doubt, it is a gift for the British economy. The United States is the largest customer for Scotch whiskey, worth $1.2 billion a year.

To display this content from X (Twitter), you must allow audience measurement and advertising cookies.

The king celebrated with “sincere gratitude” this “warm gesture that will make an important difference for British industry”

Trump's "gesture", after the pomp, the luxurious banquet and the protocol of the official visit of King Charles III and his wife, Camilla, to the United States, seems to have achieved its objective or at least temporarily: smoothing out rough spots between London and Washington.

This was, without a doubt, due to its sensitivity and importance, one of the most significant commitments that Charles III has had in his reign of almost four years.

Read alsoCharles III in the US: royal diplomacy or tension with the United Kingdom?

"A complete success"

“The visit was a great success,” says Tim Oliver, director of the Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs at Loughborough University London.

"The king and queen reminded American leaders, especially Congress and the president, not only of the benefits of the relationship with the United Kingdom, but also the importance of relations with the rest of the democratic world and the need to defend shared values. The king did so with a composure that is often absent in American politics," Oliver tells France 24.

To display this YouTube content, you must allow advertising and audience measurement cookies.

An extension on your browser appears to be blocking the video player from loading. In order to view this content, you must disable it on this site.

Monarchy expert Laura Pérez Cisneros agrees that this visit was a triumph for the British.

“Carlos gave a masterful lecture on how the so-called “soft power” – sometimes disdained by some – can have the ability to smooth and unfreeze relationships as was the case, especially because the monarch knew how to apply it with a president like Trump, who does not listen, who does not negotiate and who is used to only commanding,” highlights Pérez Cisneros.

Read alsoCarlos III strengthens ties with the US between diplomatic gestures, historical nods and social agenda

'The royals', the real ace up their sleeve

The visit began with fear for the monarch's safety, after the shooting at the correspondents' dinner in Washington on Saturday, April 25.

While the capital was protected with extreme security measures, the king was very subtly responsible for putting on the table the British interests that were at stake with the bilateral tension.

And almost without being noticed, the effect of the royal family, which is the most powerful and influential asset of the British Government, especially when it comes to the relationship with Donald Trump, began to bear fruit.

A smiling Trump, obviously excited, even said that his mother “was in love with him (Carlos).”

Beyond the anecdotes, the king, with the natural charm of leading the most famous monarchy in the world and with a family history of more than a thousand years, achieved what politicians have not been able to: bring Trump closer to British interests, at least temporarily.

The king not only 'conquered' the president but businessmen, key in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's plans to reactivate the economy, and personalities in the United States.

Read also: Will the subtle, but powerful, diplomacy of the British monarchy be able to contain Trump in Canada?

A very political speech?

The king, in essence, has no political opinions, at least public, and must avoid controversial issues to avoid controversy. His figure is synonymous with unity rather than division.

However, commentators and monarchy experts agreed that the speech before the United States Congress, for which he was applauded at least twelve times, was the most political of his reign.

Furthermore, Carlos chose to give his most political speech in a fundamental setting that, although its main audience was congressmen and the public of the United States, ended up becoming a message with global resonance.

In this intervention, described as “historic,” he spoke clearly about the importance of defending NATO, at a time when Trump is precisely attacking his allies on the other side of the Atlantic for not joining the war in the Middle East.

He also highlighted the importance of US support for Ukraine to emerge victorious from the war against Russia.

Read alsoTrump threatens to blow up NATO: rhetoric or political pressure?

Another point that is considered a forbidden criticism of Trump, Carlos, a naturalist and defender of the environment for years, also used his influence to talk about the importance of protecting the environment.

“As we look to the next 250 years, we must also reflect on our shared responsibility to safeguard nature, our most precious and irreplaceable asset,” said the king.

"The king knew how to slide the invasion of Ukraine and remembered that that nation cannot be left alone. He indirectly silenced President Trump by defending NATO, remembering that the international organization was for the US in the 9/11 attacks and, without officially being part of the EU (after Brexit), the United Kingdom teamed up with its European allies," says Pérez Cisneros.

To display this content from , you must allow audience measurement and advertising cookies.

The monarch also highlighted the importance of maintaining the close and consolidated transatlantic relationship in the past, present and future.

“In the face of any difference, any disagreement, we remain united in our commitment to defend democracy, protect all our citizens and pay tribute to the bravery of those who risk their lives daily in the service of our countries,” highlighted the monarch.

Of that more political side of Charles, which began to be revealed in Washington, President Trump, without losing his style, said at the State banquet offered to the kings that the monarch, “even more than himself,” believed that Iran should not be able to develop nuclear weapons.

Hours later, given the controversy of the comment, spokespersons for Buckingham Palace qualified the president's revelation by assuring that "the king, naturally, is mindful of his government's long-standing and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation."

Read alsoCarlos III appeals for unity in his speech before the US Congress, amid tensions over Iran

The charm of Charles III for Trump

"It was predictable, of course, that Trump would praise good relations, not only because it is what usually happens on any state visit, but because he likes royalty in all its forms and, especially, the House of Windsor. However, let us not forget that it is likely that in a few days he will have completely forgotten about the visit and does not mind launching complaints and insults against the United Kingdom or Keir Starmer," Oliver maintains.

In the middle is the "special relationship" between the United Kingdom and the United States, a deep and historic alliance, forged since the Second World War and cemented by cooperation.

Although the king managed to lower the tense spirits between Washington and London, there is no certainty that the causes of the discomfort, essentially ideological, have definitively disappeared, nor that Donald Trump prioritizes bilateral relations when they are a stick in the wheel for his interests.

Read alsoStarmer distances himself even further from Trump: "This government does not believe in regime changes that fall from the sky"

Related keywords

The content you requested does not exist or is no longer available.