Why King Charles’ state visit is ‘crucial’ for the UK-US special relationship

King Charles’ first state visit to the United States as monarch comes at a time when President Donald Trump has said the US-UK relationship has “been better”. And so it seems the monarchy’s soft power has never been more important.

“The royal family’s brand of soft diplomacy has rarely been more crucial than at this precarious time for relations between the US and the UK,” HELLO!‘s royal contributor Tracy Schaverien said. “Donald Trump has made no secret of his disapproval of our Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, after his refusal to allow British forces to join the offensive action in Iran.

“However it’s also no secret how much the President admires our royal family and the King has an important role to play in keeping the ‘special relationship’ between our countries on track. While protocol dictates that he can’t get involved in political debates, he is skilled at turning on the royal charm while remaining politically neutral.”

A relationship in need of repair

Days before King Charles and Queen Camilla’s arrival, the President told the BBC that the state visit could “absolutely” help repair the relationship. The British Prime Minister, too, has acknowledged the role of the royals when it comes to US–UK relations. Speaking to members of Parliament in April, Starmer said: “The monarchy is an important reminder of the longstanding bonds and enduring relationship between our two countries, which are far greater than anyone who occupies any particular office at any particular time.”

The King, 77, and Queen Camilla are visiting the US between April 27 and 30 at the invitation of President Donald Trump, and on the advice of His Majesty’s Government. The visit to the States, which will include stops in Washington, D.C., New York and Virginia, “will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship” between the UK and the US, according to the palace. 

“It’s been a tough time for the US-UK relationship, with the Iran war. Clearly President Trump is not happy that the British didn’t contribute more,” David Charter, author of Royal Audience: 70 Years, 13 Presidents — One Queen’s Special Relationship with America, previously told HELLO!. “But at the same time, our Prime Minister is dealing with his own domestic political situation, just as [Former Prime Minister] Harold Wilson was during the Vietnam War.”

“And [Wilson] refused. He was unable to send troops, as [American President Lyndon B. Johnson] was requesting because it just wasn’t palatable for his party or for the country, and that’s the view that Sir Keir Starmer has taken so far about Iran,” David continued. “And relations continued and were restored, and I think that will hopefully be what happens when King Charles visits at the end of the month.”

Why is Trump ‘disappointed’ in Starmer?

In recent months, the President of the United States criticized the UK’s plan to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. One of the islands in the Indian Ocean, Diego Garcia, is home to a US military base. In January, the president of the United States called the plan “to give away the Island of Diego Garcia” an “act of GREAT STUPIDITY.”

While Trump and Starmer had “very productive discussions” about the island in February, the President wrote 13 days later that the Prime Minister was “making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease” and if the land was “allowed to be” taken away from the UK, it would be “a blight on our Great Ally.”

“Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years, but Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before,” President Trump penned at the time.

In April, the deal was reported to have been shelved. A government spokesperson said: “Diego Garcia is a key strategic military asset for both the UK and the US. Ensuring its long-term operational security is, and will continue to be, our priority – it is the entire reason for the deal.”

“We continue to believe the agreement is the best way to protect the long-term future of the base, but we have always said we would only proceed with the deal if it has US support.”

In addition to the Chagos deal, the war in Iran has prompted comments from the President on US–UK relations. Starmer initially blocked the President’s request to use British bases for strikes on Iran. He later announced on March 1 that the US could use them for “specific and limited defensive purpose,” explaining that the basis of the decision was “the collective self-defense of longstanding friends and allies, and protecting British lives.”

Trump told The Telegraph that he was “very disappointed” in Starmer for his initial decision. During a bilateral meeting at the White House on March 3, the American President remarked: “It would have been much more convenient landing there as opposed to flying many extra hours. So, we were very surprised. This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.” Later that month, Trump reiterated that Starmer is “not Churchill,” but at the same time, also stated: “I like him. I think he’s a nice man, but I’m disappointed.”

Weeks before the royal visit, the President described the UK–US relationship as “sad” in an interview with Sky News. “How is the relationship? It’s the relationship where: when we asked them for help, they were not there. When we needed them, they were not there. When we didn’t need them, they were not there. And they still aren’t there,” the President said.

In contrast, Starmer told the House of Commons in April that it is not their war. “I’m not going to change my mind, I’m not going to yield, it is not in our national interest to join this war and we will not do so. I know where I stand,” the Prime Minister said. Earlier in the month, Starmer also said on BBC Radio 5 Live that they were “not supporting the blockade” of the Strait of Hormuz.

The President called the British Prime Minister “not helpful” in an interview with The Sun published in early March. Trump also admitted that it was “very sad to see” that the relationship between the two countries was “obviously not what it was.” He said: “It’s a different world, actually. It’s just a much different kind of relationship that we’ve had with your country before.”

© Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Despite what’s been said, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said in early March that the UK and US “are staunch allies.”

Starmer expressed his relief that the President and First Lady Melania Trump were safe following the shooting at the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The Prime Minister, who was admittedly “shocked by the scenes” at the event on April 25, spoke with the President the day after the dinner. According to the Prime Minister’s office, “He extended his best wishes to the President and First Lady following the shocking scenes at last night’s White House Correspondents Dinner. He expressed his relief that the President and First Lady were safe and wished a speedy recovery to the officer injured.

“Turning to the Middle East, the leaders discussed the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz, given the severe consequences for the global economy and cost of living for people in the UK and globally. The Prime Minister shared the latest progress on his joint initiative with President Macron to restore freedom of navigation, following the military planning conference at Northwood this week,” Starmer’s office added. “They looked forward to speaking again soon.”

Regardless of the state of his and Starmer’s relationship, President Trump previously said that it would not affect his relationship with the King or the state visit. “Not at all,” the President told Sky News. “I’ve known the King for a long time, and he’s not involved in that process.”