IT’S nearly 250 years since the United States rose up against the British monarchy, but America’s sense of wonder over the Royal Family was writ large yesterday.
US television carried wall-to-wall live coverage of President Trump’s big day of pomp and circumstance.
AFPKing Charles and President Trump during the largest guard of honour ever gathered for a State visit[/caption]
PAPrincess Kate, Prince William, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump[/caption]
ReutersCharles and Trump sit in a carriage during a procession through the Windsor Estate[/caption]
ReutersTrump and King Charles review the Guard of Honour after the arrival at Windsor Castle[/caption]
Breathless TV anchors marvelled at the scale of the extravaganza — the largest guard of honour ever gathered for a State visit — as Trump and wife Melania were taken on a carriage ride through the Windsor Estate.
While this orgy of pageantry was designed to keep Britain in Trump’s good books, it also did the President plenty of favours back home.
America is divided like never before but one thing that galvanises all Americans is our Royals.
The glamour, the history and the endless high-gloss soap opera of the Windsors is a Great American Unifier.
To have the most Marmite Commander-In-Chief of all time front and centre of such a display allowed America to briefly forget its troubles, for a few hours at least.
Trump himself said the main purpose of the trip was to see “my very good friend” King Charles.
“He’s been a friend of mine for a long time, and everybody respects him, and they love him,” gushed the starry-eyed President, who then ordered the travelling White House press corps aboard Air Force One to “enjoy yourselves”.
The King has a pivotal role in the crucial “special relationship”, with Prince William learning at His Majesty’s side.
His diplomatic skills, honed over 70 years as monarch-in-waiting, helped heal some of the post-Brexit wounds with Europe.
And he delivered the gentlest of rebukes to Trump’s noisy claim Canada should join the American Union as the 51st State, by going to open the Canadian Parliament.
He is in touch privately with the President, as is apprentice William, as the pair do their part to bang the drum for Britain, even with the trickiest of customers.
The pair didn’t put a foot wrong yesterday, but today is the real meat and potatoes of this historic visit.
Over to Sir Keir Starmer and the politics… no pressure then, Prime Minister.
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