King Charles must be pinching himself at the moment. After months of challenging headlines, he is suddenly met with widespread applause.
A Turnaround in Public Perception
Over the past couple of days, during his US state visit, King Charles skillfully engaged with President Trump, charming him while subtly delivering a few pointed remarks. Many commentators, even long-standing critics of the monarchy, expressed delight at the spectacle. It was perceived as an underdog triumphing against expectations.
Alastair Campbell, a prominent republican, posted: “Excellent speech by King Charles… Loved the confidence in British and European values.” Sir Anthony Seldon, a historian and biographer, praised the King’s subtlety. He noted, “With a president known for his unpredictability and fresh out of an assassination attempt, the King managed to land subtle blow after blow on a smiling president, upholding Ukraine, Nato, climate change, the Royal Navy, and the limits to presidential authority.” Sir Anthony described it as “a state visit for the ages, the most significant since his grandfather George VI’s visit in 1939 on the eve of the Second World War.”
Emily Maitlis, known for her interview with Prince Andrew, made even bolder claims, hailing the speech for uplifting the nation. “You send somebody out there and everyone applauds him and he carries it off. He did a sort of Love Actually speech, but written by Plato. That’s what it felt like, someone who lifted us all up a bit,” she shared on her Newsagents podcast.
Overcoming Significant Challenges
For those present in the Capitol chamber, the rapid shift to such noisy support was remarkable and unexpected. The monarchy had faced numerous challenges, including multiple scandals involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, which had put the royals “on the ropes.” King Charles himself sometimes appeared melancholic.
The mission to the US to rebuild bridges seemed fraught with danger. Political tensions between President Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer were unresolved. The visit was preceded by questions about meeting Epstein survivors, and a shooting incident in Washington led to calls for the trip to be cancelled. A pre-trip Ipsos poll suggested only a third expected a positive impact, and less than a quarter believed in a “special relationship” between the US and UK.
An Unprecedented Success
When the King began his speech, its eventual barnstorming success was far from obvious. Intended to be 20 minutes, it ultimately garnered 12 standing ovations, a truly unforeseen outcome. The speech resonated across the political spectrum. Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch conservative Republican, stated: “Simply put: The King nailed it. The speech was a terrific combo of wit, humor, history and appreciation. I believe most members of Congress feel better after the speech than they did before.” Nikki Haley, former US ambassador to the UN, posted: “Amazing to see King Charles unify Congress in a way America craves.” The New York Times observed that the King “worked the House chamber like a stand-up comedian.”
Even Andrew Lownie, author of a critical book on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was taken aback by a “brilliant speech.” He acknowledged, “There are fair criticisms to be made of Charles… However the King’s visit is a perfect example of why I am a monarchist despite what my critics might suggest.” Lownie added, “The worry had been that Trump would humiliate or embarrass the King, but history will likely record that it was the other way around.”
Lord Peter Ricketts, a former diplomat, told US National Public Radio: “This was frankly, the most difficult, demanding piece of royal diplomacy he’s done so far.” He highlighted the King’s “tremendous sense of humour.”
Perhaps what resonated most in the UK was the perception of someone standing up for them, after prolonged criticisms from President Trump, and doing so with humor, which softened the confrontational aspect. While this sudden international popularity could be fleeting, like a “holiday romance,” the speech in the US Congress, with its unexpected cheers, may well be remembered as one of King Charles’s most successful moments.
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