Donald Trump has joked that his mother used to have a crush on the 'cute' young Prince Charles, now King Charles III. The US President lavished praise on the monarch during the second day of a historic state visit, recounting his mother's deep affection for the Royal Family.
A Mother's Crush on a Prince
Speaking at the White House South Lawn, where he hosted a ceremonial military welcome for King Charles and Queen Camilla, Trump described the 'tremendous privilege' of hosting Their Majesties. He noted that his Scottish mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, who died in 2000, 'loved the Royal Family and the Queen' and thought the then-Prince Charles was 'cute'. Trump recalled: 'Any time the Queen was involved in a ceremony or anything, my mother would be glued to the television and she would say, 'look, Donald, look how beautiful that is.' She really did love the family. But I also remember her saying very clearly: 'Charles, look, young Charles, he is so cute.' My mother had a crush on Charles. Can you believe it? Amazing how I wonder what she is thinking right now.'
Praise for the Special Relationship
The President also hailed the relationship between the US and the UK as having the 'strongest and deepest of roots'. Despite recent tensions, Trump spoke passionately about the bonds between the two countries, declaring: 'In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British.' He paid tribute to the 'essence' of the 'special relationship' in the wake of the Second World War, stating: 'That understanding of our nation's unique bond and role in history is the essence of our special relationship and we hope it will always remain that way.'
Ceremonial Welcome and Bilateral Talks
Trump branded the US and the UK 'the two most exceptional nations the world has ever known', calling on them to go forward 'together... with even stronger resolve'. He concluded: 'Your Majesties, thank you once again for making this important visit. We are so honoured.' After a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, Trump confirmed it was 'a really good meeting', adding that the King is 'a fantastic person' and the royal couple are 'incredible people'.
While the leaders held talks, Queen Camilla and First Lady Melania Trump joined American students at the White House tennis pavilion for a cross-cultural event showcasing education in technology. Students used virtual reality headsets and AI-enabled glasses to learn about American history and the special relationship with the UK. The session highlighted Melania's 'Fostering the Future Together' initiative, and she tried on the special glasses, calling the effects 'incredible'.
Royal Lineage Connection
Earlier, Trump reacted to a Daily Mail report revealing he shares royal blood with King Charles III as 15th cousins through the 3rd Earl of Lennox. On Truth Social, he wrote: 'Wow, that's nice. I've always wanted to live in Buckingham Palace!!! I'll talk to the King and Queen about this in a few minutes!!'
