King Charles has sent a personal congratulations message to President Donald Trump on his inauguration, praising the UK and the US’ special relationship.
The monarch’s private words were sent to Mr Trump to congratulate him on being sworn into office as US president for a second time, Buckingham Palace has revealed.
It is understood all options remain possible for an incoming state visit by Mr Trump to the UK and a visit by Charles to the US, but no plans are currently in the diary.
Foreign monarchs, presidents or prime ministers are invited to visit the King on the advice and request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with the decision down to the Government.
With the Republican politician making the most dramatic comeback in US political history, Charles and Mr Trump will be expected to encounter one another face to face once again during Trump 2.0, as his second term in office is being dubbed.
Mr Trump is well known for his love of the monarchy and the royal family plays a central role in the UK’s bond with the US.
The US leader boasted he had ‘automatic chemistry’ with the late Queen, and has hailed the King as a ‘really wonderful guy’.
In a new interview Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called Mr Trump ‘the most pro-British president since Eisenhower’ and spoke of his love for the royals.
The president-elect, wearing a suit and dark red tie, shook his fist to photographers as he stepped out of the crowd. Melania, in a navy blue suit and matching hat with white trim, was at his side. Their son Barron walked with them.
Mr Farage said: ‘Trump as a teenager came to Scotland a lot and spent a lot of time there. He’s got his investments there, loves the royals – I mean on a level you can’t even believe. This is a very, very, very, very Anglophile president.’
Donald Trump kicked off the ceremonies for his historic second inauguration alongside his wife Melania, son Barron, and his family at a church service on Monday.
The president-elect took the front row of St. John’s Episcopal Church – just a block away from the White House – and smiled to Vance, who was sat alongside wife Usha.
The Trump family joined them inside the church – Ivanka and Jared Kushner and their kids; Don Jr., his ex-wife Vanessa and their kids; Tiffany Trump and husband Michael Boulos; and Eric and Lara Trump and their two children.
Incoming Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha sat in the front pew with Donald, Melania and Barron.
The business world was well represented in church with media mogul Rupert Murdoch, as well as tech tycoons Elon Musk, TikTok CEO Shou Chew, Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Apple’s Tim Cook all in attendance – as well as former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Mr Trump was also joined by Republican luminaries including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Marco Rubio, Tulsi Gabbard, Sean Duffy, Rep. Mike Waltz, Pam Bondi, and Doug Burgum, with controversial Argentinian President Javier Milei also present.
There was a feeling among some of Mr Trump’s team that he was ‘snubbed’ by the royals during his first visit to the UK in 2018.
CNN reported that Mr Trump apparently requested a trip to Buckingham Palace in one of the Queen’s gold-plated carriages.
That idea was vetoed by the security services and the UK Embassy.
Fearing protests – in the end more than 100,000 protests took to the streets – they instead arranged for the Trumps to meet Her Majesty at Windsor.
However, Prince William and Harry reportedly refused to meet with the then 45th president – as did the then-Prince Charles, according to some senior royal watchers.
However, it appears the relationship between Charles and Mr Trump has warmed over time.
After a meeting at Buckingham Palace in 2019 in which the pair discussed climate change at length, Mr Trump told Piers Morgan that he was ‘moved’ by Charles’ ‘passion for future generations’.
‘We were going to have a 15-minute chat. And it turned out to be an hour and a half. And he did most of the talking,’ Mr Trump said.
‘What he really wants, and what he really feels warmly about is the future. He wants to make sure future generations have a climate that is good climate as opposed to a disaster and I agree.’
In July 2024 King Charles wrote to Mr Trump after he survived an assassination attempt, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.