There have been some tensions simmering behind Palace walls ever since the official state visit for U.S. President Donald Trump has been announced.
Previously, it was supposed to be an informal Balmoral visit which was to be followed up by a state visit later during Trump’s term. However, Trump rejected the idea and the U.K. government obliged, much to the dismay of the Palace.
King Charles has been particularly irked by Trump’s statement on making Canada its 51st state. He has since responded with strongly worded statement, albeit not directly addressing Trump, but defended the country’s sovereignty when he opened the Parliament last month.
The palace has issued an official invite, a manu regia, signed by the king and hand-delivered to the White House last week. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been accused of going “against the king’s wishes” as the monarch who wanted to delay it.
Although, sources tell The Daily Beast that this is an embarrassing situation for the Palace as secret tensions brew with Downing Street.
“Charles has been bounced into doing it now by Trump,” a former courtier told the outlet. “It’s embarrassing for the palace, which sent the letter suggesting that there was going to be this cosy, informal visit first, but it looks like Trump saw that for what it was; an attempt to kick the can down the road.”
They explained that Trump’s decision may have been motivated by the “general anxiety around the king’s health”.
Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace has not responded to a request for official comment, either to the London Times or the Daily Beast.
Although, officials tend to assert that state visits are not personal matters, but undertaken at the request of the ruling government.