King Charles to use ‘tiara diplomacy’ for Trump’s UK visit
LONDON, Sep 15: Windsor Castle, a nearly 1,000-year-old castle west of London, is set to host US President Donald Trump for his historic second state visit.
The visit, featuring glittering tiaras, brass bands, and a sumptuous banquet served on 200-year-old silver, is a display of the pomp and ceremony that Britain does like no one else.
The royals remain a robust instrument of “soft power,” which the elected government uses to reward friends and wring concessions out of reluctant allies.
State visits are the monarchy’s ultimate tool, with world leaders vying to get the full royal treatment.
The impact of soft power is hard to quantify, but it contributes to a feeling of friendship that may incline another party to be more open to your entreaties.
Six years ago, Britain sought Trump’s support as it prepared to leave the European Union.
This time the UK is lobbying for favorable trade terms and help in combating Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer hurried to Washington in February, just five weeks after Trump began his second term, and handed him the king’s invitation for a state visit.
It was the first time any world leader received the honor of a second state visit, and the first time the invitation was delivered in a personal letter from the king, which Trump proudly displayed for TV cameras.
The meat of the visit begins the next day, with Charles and Queen Camilla accompanying the Trumps on a carriage ride through the Windsor estate and back to the castle along a path lined by members of the armed forces.
Inside the crenellated walls of the castle, a military band will play the national anthems of both countries before Charles and Trump review the guard of honour in scarlet tunics and tall bearskin hats.
After the welcoming ceremonies, the Trumps will view an exhibit of documents and artwork put together to highlight the shared history of Britain and the US.
The centrepiece of the visit will be Wednesday night’s state banquet, where the men will don white ties and tail coats, and the women will wear designer gowns and jewels that sparkle in the flickering light from antique candelabra. (AP)
People hold candles and sing during a memorial and prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, in Washington, on Sunday. (PTI)