Latest news with #CourtofStJames
Daily Mirror
10-08-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Donald Trump given two-word assessment by ambassador ahead of meeting with King Charles
The US Ambassador to the Court of St James has heaped praise on the US President ahead of his state visit, saying he was a 'delightful' man and a 'good grandfather' US President Donald Trump has been granted the honour of a second state visit by King Charles III, where he is expected to join the monarch and his wife, Queen Camilla, at Windsor Castle in mid-September. Ahead of this unprecedented second visit, the US ambassador to the Court of St. James has offered a two-word assessment of his boss, suggesting that he may have been invited back because he's "charming and funny." Typically, second-term presidents are not offered a state visit but are usually invited for tea or lunch with the monarch. Ambassador Warren Stephens told The Times that Trump was absolutely delightful company when he and his wife brought their extended family into the Oval Office. Ambassador Stephens said he was particularly charming with the younger children: "He opened his desk drawer and gave them all coins and showed them the American Declaration of Independence. You can tell he is a good grandfather; he has all his family photos." The ambassador added that the bust of Winston Churchill, which was notoriously removed from the Oval Office during President Obama's administration, is now very much back in its place. He also mentioned that the president is a first-class golfer: " I did not play very well and he's a surprisingly good golfer. He played terrifically. He can drive; he can putt." The billionaire ambassador, who donated $1 million to MAGA Inc. , a super PAC that supports Donald Trump added: "The president and his son Eric beat my son, me and my son-in-law." Ambassador Stephens went on to say that he was equally charmed when he met with the King after taking office in May: "It was a thrill. Harriet and I drove to Buckingham Palace in a gilded carriage. "The King was most gracious with his time. Frankly, I was nervous. We had rehearsed here with members of the royal staff, but he was so disarming. He was delightful." Widespread demonstrations against President Trump are anticipated during his UK visit. A major protest has been organised for Wednesday 17 September 2025, coinciding with the opening day of Donald Trump's state visit to Britain. Additional action is expected to occur near Windsor Castle. Stop Trump Coalition spokesperson Seema Syeda said: "This will be a massive protest against Trump's state visit. Trump and his authoritarian politics are not welcome here. Keir Starmer should not be rolling out the red carpet for Trump." "They are already running scared. They have chosen the first possible date that stops Trump from being able to address Parliament. We know that Trump is deeply unpopular with the public." She added: "We mobilised hundreds of thousands of people against Trump during his first term, and he has only got worse since then. We are working at speed to bring together all the movements – for democracy, for equality, against climate change, for a free Palestine – to show our unity against Trump." However, despite potential public backlash, Trump expects a cordial reception from the Royal Family. Speaking in April, he declared: "I'm a friend of Charles, I have great respect for King Charles and the family, William. We have really just a great respect for the family."
The Independent
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
C'mon Saudis! Let us drink a lager or two at your World Cup
I don't know whether His Excellency Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, the Saudi ambassador to the Court of St James, has ever watched England eke out a nil-nil draw against, say, Slovenia (as I did at last year's Euros game in Cologne). Harry Kane and the lads didn't play that badly, to be fair, but it was a typical 90 minutes of agony, and has to be experienced to be fully comprehended. 'It's the hope that kills you', in the words of the old English proverb. No doubt he has better things to do, given the vital role his kingdom plays in world affairs. But if he had had to endure such miseries, he might not take such a hard line about the consumption of alcohol in the 2034 tournament, to be held in his beautiful country. He might, in all fairness, be a devoted 'falcon', a Saudi fan, and been, like all of us, elated when they beat Argentina, Lionel Messi included, at the group stage at Qatar in 2022; but, as that episode perhaps proved, England fans tend to be a more entitled lot. He seems a cheerful, engaging chap, this high-ranking diplomat, and he puts a reasonable case for abstinence: 'Plenty of fun can be had without alcohol. It's not 100 per cent necessary and if you want to drink after you leave, you're welcome to, but at the moment we don't have alcohol. Rather like our weather, it's a dry country. Everyone has their own culture. We're happy to accommodate people within the boundaries of our culture but we don't want to change our culture for someone else.' With the greatest respect, the ambassador plainly doesn't understand the meaning of 'despair' in the international football context; and how much some nice ice-cold lager (usually German, ironically) can help to dull the pain of disappointment. It may well be possible to have 'plenty of fun without alcohol', but 'fun' is not necessarily the usual accompaniment when following the Three Lions. The Saudi tournament is some years away – 2034 – but it is not too soon to beg the nation's authorities to reconsider the policy. As far as one can see, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, vastly wealthy and a regional superpower, wants to be a leading player in world football as well. It's a noble ambition, and very much to be welcomed as its leaders diversify their economy and reduce dependence on hydrocarbons to make a living. The 2034 finals will be an important stage in the game's development. But for Saudi to fulfil its potential, then it will need to adapt, in as comfortable way as possible, to the game as it is played and celebrated in its spiritual home, and that means pies, pints, offensive chants, hooliganism and futile post-match analysis at the appropriate and traditional moments. These are rituals that have been crafted with awesome care by England fans since the first recorded football barney, when Preston North End beat Aston Villa 5-0 in an 1885 'friendly'. The press reported the fans as 'howling roughs', still a fitting description for, say, the ruckus at the end of the recent Everton-Liverpool derby. Please, Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, won't you think of the fans? They'll be suffering enough by the time England fulfil their usual fear of getting kicked out at the quarter finals stage, no doubt on penalties, and, who knows, maybe to the plucky Saudi Falcons. There would be no more appreciated a gesture than to find some discreet way to permit the England supporters to pursue their own national culture at their greatest hour of need. We have our tribal traditions, too.
