'Royal plan' to win over Donald Trump from 'secret weapon' to 'icing on cake
The Royal Family look set to welcome Donald Trump to the UK on a historic second state visit after the summer - and it seems the US president could be keen for two major royals to took part
After the Royal Family's summer holidays, they will return to duties with a bang due to Donald Trump's state visit to the UK. It is understood the US president will make an unprecedented second state visit to the UK in September with formal planning for the huge event now underway.
The state visit comes after UK prime minister Keir Starmer delivered a letter from the King to Trump to invite him for the state visit - dramatically handing it to him in the Oval Office during a visit to the White House. Of course, the King and Queen Camilla will be on hand to host Trump and his wife Melania - but it seems the US leader has been enamoured by another member of the Royal Family, Prince William.
The pair met in Paris last year after the re-opening of Notre Dame Cathedral, with Trump reportedly 'obsessed' with the heir to the throne, calling him "very handsome".
And former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes William possibly teaming up with wife Kate to play a huge royal in the event would do wonders for UK diplomacy.
She explained to the Mirror: "President Trump appears to have taken a shine to William, after their meeting at Notre Dame. So I'm sure we shall see Prince William taking a prominent role in the state visit.
"The icing on the cake for Donald Trump would, of course, be the presence of the Princess of Wales at some of the events and at the state dinner. That will depend on her health.
"But I'm sure both William and Catherine recognise the importance of massaging the President's ego, and they will play as prominent a part as possible. It's what the monarch and his senior working royals must do; it's their job and their duty and they will do it well."
When Trump was first told he would be given a second state visit to the UK, the letter from the King invited him to an informal meeting in Scotland as a precursor to a full state visit.
But this has now been brought forward by many months. Buckingham Palace was understood to have been hoping for a more leisurely approach amid concern over Trump's threat to make Canada the US's 51st state.
However, sources confirmed after conversations between both parties the King and the US president's busy diaries mean they are unable to meet informally first over the summer.
And Jennie added: "These are very tricky times for the Government - and the world - so you really can't blame the PM for using every diplomatic weapon in his arsenal. And the King is probably the most powerful weapon he has.
"I imagine the King thinks Trump is impudent in the extreme by suggesting Canada should become the 51st US State. I can almost hear the huffing and puffing that it must have provoked behind Palace walls. But Charles also knows that Anglo/American relations are vitally important, and his duty is to help his Government protect that relationship.
"So, although the King could conceivably have made himself unavailable at the proposed time, he knows his duty is to stage a spectacular event that will pander to this President's very sizeable ego. And that's what he'll do.
"As Prince of Wales, he could allow himself the luxury of boycotting a state dinner for the Chinese president and his entourage – even though it attracted criticism. As King, he no longer has that luxury and he must play a starring role in the state visit at the appointed time. Charles and Camilla will be impeccably behaved, and Trump will be duly bewitched by the magic of monarchy."
However, Jennie added that there would also be a diplomatic tightrope to walk for the King given his role as head of state of Canada - which he could even use to his advantage.
She explained: "The President views himself as an arch negotiator, but it has to be said that the King is no mean hand himself at convening meetings and encouraging people to hammer out a solution to a variety of issues and problems.
"So perhaps he can use a little not-so-soft power to impress upon Trump that Canada is not up for grabs. It is, after all, something exceptionally close to the King of Canada's heart."
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