At a state banquet honouring the U.S. president, King Charles and Donald Trump delivered speeches that were a study in contrasts.
The King and the president each spoke ahead of Wednesday’s banquet at Windsor Castle for a similar length of time and with a similar overall tone, largely filled with warm references to the special relationship between the U.S. and the U.K.
Where their speeches differed most sharply was in their willingness to address current and potentially controversial issues.
Most notably, Charles described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “tyranny” and subtly implied the U.S. shares Britain’s perspective on the war.
“In two world wars, we fought together to defeat the forces of tyranny,” said the King. “Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace.”
Trump did not mention Ukraine at all during his speech
WATCH | Trump gets the royal treatment:
Trump meets Royals, draws protests during 2nd U.K state visit
U.S. President Donald Trump was greeted by King Charles and Queen Camilla outside Windsor Castle, but protests in the U.K. continued as many object to the state visit.
The U.S. president did however use one of his trademark lines boasting of an economic turnaround under his administration.
“One year ago we were a very sick country, now we’re the hottest country in the world,” said Trump.
State visit as way to flatter Trump
Charles invited Trump for the state visit at the urging of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer back in February, with the U.K. facing the economic hit from Trump’s threatened tariffs and with Europe wanting the White House on side against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Plenty of observers in the U.K. and the U.S. see the visit, with all its pomp and ceremony, as a way to flatter Trump with the trappings of royalty, in an effort to woo him toward the British point of view on key issues.
It’s why the president’s and King’s speeches were being watched so closely both for signs of common ground or division.
The pair exchanged compliments about each other’s nation’s history, with the elected president praising the British Empire and the hereditary monarch praising U.S. democracy.
In his speech, Charles described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as ‘tyranny’ that threatens Europe, while Trump’s speech did not mention the war at all. (Yui Mok/Press Association/Pool)
“The British Empire laid the foundations of law, liberty, free speech, and individual rights virtually everywhere the Union Jack has ever flown,” said Trump.
Charles spoke of his long admiration for “the principles of freedom which your great democracy has represented since its inception.”
He also had warm words for Trump personally on diplomacy, notable given that the president frequently claims credit for ending seven wars since his January inauguration
“Our countries are working together in support of crucial diplomatic efforts, not least of which, Mr. President, is your own personal commitment to finding solutions to some of the world’s most intractable conflicts, in order to secure peace,” said Charles.
Safeguarding the ‘beauty of nature’
The King, who has promoted environmental causes throughout his adult life, spoke of the “precious opportunity to safeguard and to restore the wonders and beauty of nature for the generations who follow.”
Trump did not mention the environment.
WATCH | Full speeches by Charles, Trump:
King Charles, Donald Trump exchange speeches at Windsor Castle
Donald Trump and King Charles exchanged speeches at a state banquet in Windsor Castle, with Trump saying his second state visit to the U.K. has been ‘truly one of the highest honours’ of his life.
Another notable contrast came in how the pair referred to values in their speeches.
“This relationship which, with good reason, we and our predecessors have long called special, has made us safer and stronger through the generations. Our people have fought and died together for the values we hold dear,” said the King.
While Trump said: “Together, we must defend the exceptional heritage that makes us who we are, and we must continue to stand for the values of the people of the English-speaking world.”
The speeches were delivered while the 160 guests sat at a nearly 50-metre-long table set with 1,452 pieces of cutlery, according to palace officials.
Palace and Ministry of Defence officials issued statements describing various superlatives and firsts of this state visit: the largest guard of honour ever, the first performance of the Beating Retreat military ceremony at a state visit, and the first time a president of any country has been granted a second state visit, after Queen Elizabeth hosted Trump in 2019.
“This is truly one of the highest honours of my life,” Trump said in his speech.
The U.S. president is due to meet Starmer on Thursday for one-on-one talks at the prime minister’s country retreat Chequers. The two leaders are then scheduled to give a joint news conference before Trump flies back to Washington.