Fresh images from King Charles’ latest visit to the United States appear to reveal a more relaxed side of the monarch.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are currently in the US, where the president has already welcomed them with a lavish White House state dinner.
During the evening, Charles presented Donald Trump with a sizeable brass bell engraved with his name. The bell came from the tower of a World War Two British submarine, the HMS Trump, which the King said played “a critical role during the war in the Pacific”.
“May it stand as a testimony to our nation’s shared history and shining future,”
Charles added, describing the present as a very “personal” gesture for the POTUS — who, just days earlier, reportedly experienced another near-death incident when a gunman opened fire at a gala dinner.
In several photos, the King and President Trump appear in high spirits, with the pair seemingly sharing jokes and smiling throughout their time together.
While delivering a speech, Trump remarked that his mother once had a “crush” on Charles. The King was later seen smirking at the unexpected aside.
Overall, the visit has given the impression that King Charles is thoroughly enjoying his time stateside.
One particular image from a meeting in the Oval Office shows Trump resting his hand on the King’s knee — a gesture that would likely be considered outside typical royal protocol — as Charles laughs beside him.
The moment stands in sharp contrast to a much earlier White House visit in 1970, when Charles — then a prince — met President Nixon. In that earlier encounter, he appeared notably formal and composed, with no visible smiles.
That trip was Charles’ first visit to the US, and he travelled alongside his sister, Princess Anne. According to Fox News, the invitation came from the daughters and son-in-law of then-President Nixon.
Body language expert Darren Stanton, speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, suggested that the upbeat expressions shared between Trump, Charles, and their wives are authentic.
“The couples seem to be getting on genuinely well,” Stanton told UNILAD. “The smiles are genuine. Charles is completely within his comfort zone. Decades ago he would have been quite uncomfortable. But he’s totally at ease now.”
“He’s very much come into his own. The King looks a bit bewildered at certain moments when it wasn’t clear what he was meant to do, but the president was there to guide him.”
“It’s been a very cordial visit so far, the King doesn’t look nervous or intimidated at all. Trump is showing him due respect. Because Charles has such a good sense of humour, you can see these moments when he’s perhaps smiling to himself.
“His reaction to Trump’s speech was interesting, especially when he references his mother having a crush on him. You can see he has these little smiles to himself.”