Green Party leader Zack Polanski has expressed sympathy for King Charles III, saying he feels “really sorry for the King” over the planned state visit to meet US President Donald Trump. Polanski blames Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for putting the monarch in a difficult position.
Security Concerns Intensify
The comments come amid heightened security following what the White House described as an attempted assassination of President Trump at the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington. The incident has reignited debate over whether the King and Queen should travel to the United States.
Speaking in Newcastle, Polanski said: “I actually feel really sorry for the King, that he’s been paraded around as some sort of privilege for Donald Trump.”
Trump’s Controversial Remarks
Polanski highlighted a recent post by Trump on his social media platform Truth Social: “An entire civilisation could be wiped out this evening, it doesn’t have to happen, but it probably could.”
“That’s not a man we should consider our ally or in a special relationship with,” Polanski added. “That’s a man we should be sanctioning and making sure that we’re condemning.”
Criticism of Starmer’s Decision
The Green Party leader questioned why Sir Keir Starmer is “so obsequious to Donald Trump.” He acknowledged the need for diplomatic relations but argued that sending King Charles as if Trump were a friend or ally would be difficult for many British people to watch.
“They’ll wonder why Keir Starmer, as with so many decisions, has made that decision,” Polanski said.
Royal Visit to Proceed
Buckingham Palace announced on Sunday that Charles’s visit to Washington would largely go ahead as planned, though modest operational adjustments to one or two royal engagements are expected. The historic visit, the King’s first as monarch to the US, will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and herald celebrations across the country.
The royal couple will begin with a private tea hosted by the president and first lady, and will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that destroyed New York’s Twin Towers.
Polanski’s View on Monarchy
Mr Polanski stated he personally has “no time” for the monarchy. “We live in the wealthiest country in the world,” he said. “You have rich people getting richer than they’ve ever been before, while people are struggling and nurses are queueing up at food banks. I don’t think it’s a good symbol.”
