Together with the first Lady of Melania, Donald Trump will be the first president of the United States to be officially welcomed in the Windsor Castle, which is another unprecedented element of this breakthrough second visit of the state leader who loves to feel unique.
They will be honored with the greatest pump and splendor that the United Kingdom has to offer, along with the banquet, an honorary escort and a solemn flight of aircraft, which has already impressed on Trump – and which reminds us of a long history of military cooperation between Great Britain and the United States.
There is a hope that the royal “charm offensive” will create the basics for Prime Minister Keira Starmer and his advisers To make new efforts to convince Trump that he should put more pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Although this does not appear in any visit program, political and royal advisors expect that This issue will be raised behind the scenes.
A high -ranking defense clerk, who, like others in this article, has maintained anonymity to be able to speak honestly, said that the king is “very close” details of the negotiations regarding the suspension of weapons and the President of Ukraine himself, Wołodymyr Zelnski.
This gives the Prime Minister a weapon that does not have many other European leaders: a nice monarch that quietly, but consistently shows its support for Kiev – And he is ready to do everything in his power to break the skepticism of the United States towards this matter.
Royal ally
The US president, who so often rejects other conventions, has deep respect and sympathy of the royal family, which is to be used during a state visit.
Going to Great Britain, he called King Charles an “elegant gentleman” and described his second visit as “a great honor”.
Much less respect, to put it mildly, showed Zelanski, often suggesting that he was responsible for Russia's invasion of his country and humiliating him during the infamous meeting in the oval office at the beginning of this year.
In times of very uncertain support from America The Ukrainian leader found an ally in the person of the king.
Karol une.
King Charles III accepts the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelanski at the Windsor Castle, June 23, 2025.Jonathan Brady – WPA Pool / Getty Images / Getty Images
Orysia Łuczewacz, head of the Ukrainian program in Chatham House, said that the support shown by the king was a signal of “Solidarity and a reminder who is the victim and who's aggressor” in the face of “distortions and disinformation” from Putin.
There were a high -ranking British diplomat noticed that although the king is not publicly speaking on government topics, there is “Deep in finding other ways to express your views. “
He will have a lot of time for it: the president will stop at the Windsor Castle at night, where he will be invited to a carriage ride around the property and lunch before the main event, which is a gala dinner in evening costumes.
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“It would not be a surprise if he took the opportunity to privately encourage the president to support Ukraine more effectively,” said a former British diplomat.
The royal advisor confirmed the King's interest in Ukraine, noting that in the message on the occasion of the Independence Day of this country he called for “fair and lasting peace” in Ukraine last month.
The king may refer to Ukraine during a speech at a solemn banquet, as he did during the recent visit of the French leader Emmanuel Macron. However, his diplomacy will probably be conducted behind closed doors, supported by the symbolism of the entire journey, aimed at emphasizing the history of both countries as allies during the war.
Difficult task
A more difficult question is whether the king's gestures will bring results.
One of the government advisers drew attention to the royal party of Trump by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima in the Netherlands, arguing that it helped pave the way to the successful NATO summit, during which he again followed the alliance.
Trump during the journey will be accompanied by secretary of state Marco Rubio and a special envoy Steve Witkoff, which means that it will also be an opportunity to influence his leading diplomats. During the visit of the Vice President of JD Vance to the UK this summer, people from the inside informed that Both Rubio and Vance were more and more involved in Kiev's point of view.
Karol's biographer Robert Hardman, said Politico: – As for soft strength, other world leaders and other countries are much more interested in the monarchy than Downing Street.
This contrast – with the continuity represented by the monarch – may have even greater value, because Starmer must face questions about his future after weeks of turmoil.
US President Donald Trump speaks to journalists before boarding Marine One, September 16, 2025.Chen Mengtong/China News Service/VCG Via Getty Images/Getty Images
At the same time, the persuasion of Trump to take more decisive actions for Ukraine remains a difficult task. Although the president seems more and more skeptical about Putin, this has not yet translated into decisive actions to punish him.
The president made it clear in the pole on Truth Social that he expected that allies from NATO will stop buying Russian oil and impose significant duties on China for the support of the Russian war before the United States impose additional sanctions on Moscow.
Torrey Taussig, director of Transatlantic Security Initiative at the Think Tank Atlantic Council, said that in combination with Trump's restrained reaction to the invasion of Russian drones to Polish aerial space, “this is the last position It doesn't give Starmer too much room for maneuver. “
Taussig added that although Trump's sympathy for the royal family “can give the weight” to the king's appeal in the matter of Ukraine, it is not “convinced” that the president will change the course.
If so far the main task of Great Britain was to keep Trump at the table of talks about Ukraine, then the king will at least contribute to these efforts – in a more spectacular way than most other people.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
