King Charles will avoid the potential humiliation of public criticism from US President Donald Trump this week, as the White House has agreed that any meeting between the two leaders should take place without cameras, UNN reports, citing The Guardian.
Details
British officials insisted that the meeting between the monarch and the US President in the Oval Office take place without cameras due to fears of a repeat of the events where Trump lectured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in front of the world press.
Sources involved in planning the trip say Charles posed for cameras at the start of his key bilateral meeting on Tuesday, but he will not be filmed while discussing any substantive issues.
Ministers have high hopes for the state visit, which they hope will help repair relations between the two countries during one of the most difficult periods in decades.
With Trump threatening retaliatory measures over criticism of the war with Iran by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the government hopes the King can persuade the President to soften some of his most aggressive rhetoric.
The King will attend several other events with Trump, accompanied by palace officials as well as Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, in accordance with standard state visit practice.
Diplomatic sources suggested that Cooper, who previously accompanied the monarch to the Vatican, is ready to step in and handle any awkward moments if necessary.
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"She is ready to act as a human shield for the King if Trump starts criticizing Starmer or the UK as a whole, as he is prone to do," one of them said.
However, government sources said the Foreign Secretary would likely prefer to rely on Charles's own diplomatic skills.
"He has decades of experience in such matters, including meetings with quite difficult people. He reads all his papers and knows exactly what is going on. We think he will be fine," one of them said.
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Addendum
Trump has previously expressed his admiration for the Royal Family, and he is not expected to engage in a public spat when Charles arrives on Monday evening.
The King is also likely to walk a fine diplomatic line, though some officials expect him to emphasize his commitment to environmental protection and Ukraine during his speech to Congress on Tuesday. Both statements could be interpreted as veiled criticism of the Trump administration, though the King is likely to frame his messages in abstract terms.
On Sunday, the government confirmed that the trip would proceed as planned, despite a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington.
Officials say the King's security arrangements have changed slightly as a result, but the schedule remains unchanged.
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In an interview with CBS News's "60 Minutes" on Sunday night, the President praised Charles for sticking to his plans. "(The King) is a wonderful person, and we look forward to this meeting," he said. "He really is a fantastic person and a terrific representative, and he is brave."