Why King Charles can save the special relationship

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0:42King Charles' ability to charm Donald Trump has never mattered more. And this is why.

0:58Hi everyone, Neil here and as I'm sitting down to record this the King is packing his bags for a state visit to the USA he's got his passport ready his travel pillow is on standby he's even been briefed by the government so what could possibly go wrong? This is a moment for American leadership A moment for America to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations. Ah yeah, Prince Harry decided to have a pop at the president whilst he was on one of his not-a-royal visits, this time to Ukraine. And that sort of thing reaches the ear of the big man himself very quickly indeed. Prince Harry?

1:35Yes, sir. How's he doing? How's his wife? Please give her my regards, okay? No, I don't know. I know one thing. Prince Harry is not speaking for the UK. Officially, Charles is heading to the States to mark the country's 250th anniversary. Unofficially, well, he's there as a bit of a Trump whisperer. We're told the president has a great love of the monarchy. He also claims to love the UK, though it hasn't felt much like it recently. This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with. So the hope is the royal visit will paper over some of the cracks in the transatlantic relationship. A job made just a wee bit harder by his younger son.

2:14One of those travelling to the States to cover the visit is the royal correspondent, Robert Jobson. Robert, great to have you on the podcast. Look, let's just start with the basics, shall we? How much do we know about the itinerary for the royal visit? Oh, the Parliament's had a briefing amongst certain correspondents of what's going to happen. There's certain things we're not allowed to say for security reasons. And by the way, security is going to be mad on this trip. Yeah, we know he's going to Washington. He's going to go to the White House. He's not going to do a sit down with the president in terms of being watched over by the press.

2:45So we're not going to get a Zelensky moment where he was ambushed. Obviously, we're going to get the king's address to Congress. He'll be the first monarch of the United Kingdom since the Queen in 91 to do that. He's going also to New York. So he's there with the queen to commemorate the 250th anniversary of independence when they booted us out. Robert, just explain. When it comes to putting a trip like this together, the monarch is travelling there and representing the UK government, isn't he? So who actually works out the itinerary? Who sets it? Well, everything's a negotiation, and this has been negotiated for a long time.

3:22You know, we had a very successful trip to Windsor when President Trump came over the second time. The relationship with America is just so important. I know we keep banging on about the special relationship. They don't use it as quite as much anymore because it's probably a little bit less special. But in terms of dollars, billions of dollars and the money that's involved, it's very special. in terms of the intelligence that we share, incredibly special. In terms of the familial ties we share and the language we share, it's an important visit, this. And it's very important for the king to go over there as, if you like, our most important envoy that we have.

3:55It is a political visit. It is a soft power diplomacy at its height. The king, after all, you know, is somebody that has been doing this in the sort of number two role for quite some time. He knows how these things operate, and he does it very well behind closed doors. He's a very respected man. And I think that the president will respect his visit and actually warmly welcome him and not embarrass him. A lot of the events that are taking place are big set-piece events. You've already mentioned this will be the second time a British monarch has addressed Congress after his mother back in 1991, I think you said.

4:26When it comes to that sort of speech, what is the tone that we should expect to be adopted by the king? What topics do you assume that we will be hearing from him? And of course, things have changed so much in the last, well, certainly since the Americans and Israelis at war against Iran has changed. So it's going to be, obviously, a lot of people are going to be involved in that for the Foreign Office. But I think the king will have an input, actually, as well. He will want to make sure that he emphasizes the success stories between this. From the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, I'm sure they're going to mention.

4:59I'm sure that the incredible collaboration of the Allies during the Second World War. And I think, you know, we've had a special relationship. It's not always been that nice. You know, we had a war 250 years ago. That's what we're going to mark. And even in between, we burnt down the White House when we went back. So it's not always been such a lovely relationship. But in terms of money, yeah, it's very, very important. What then is the significance of the meeting between the king and the president happening behind closed doors? Is it just simply to avoid the possibility of, as you mentioned before, one of those Zelensky moments?

5:32Yeah, I think that the king wouldn't get involved in the Zelensky moment, nor should he. And there's no way they could allow the Trump to, more likely Vance, to ambush El Hedder State. It's just not going to happen. But more importantly, the king is one of the most, I think, respected figures, particularly in the Arab world. And he's very experienced in the world stage. Wants to be able to speak as plainly and openly and as warmly with Donald Trump as he possibly can. And he'll emphasize things that they'll have a conversation. that conversation will be frank and I don't think it'll be in any way aggressive I think that anyone who's had spent any time speaking with the king and I'm lucky enough to have had a conversation about 30 minutes with him privately on a plane and it was one-to-one and the man is incredibly funny incredibly clever and informed and will speak frankly to you but also charmingly so at the end of the day they're going to have a conversation with well it may not change Mr.

6:23to Trump's view on anything, but it might, and you never know. And having the king's input, where he's respected in the Arab world particularly, is important, in my opinion. Given the king is so well-informed, Charles III will be aware of the disparaging comments that Donald Trump has made about his prime minister, about the UK in general, and also about the armed forces, of which, of course, the king is the titular lead. I mean, you'll have to draw on all his powers of diplomacy to gloss over all of that, won't he? I mean, politicians are politicians. I mean, you know, I'm sure that privately the King's had a few things to say about other prime ministers.

6:59I know he wasn't too enamored with Tony Blair. I think that he'll be able to cope with that quite well. I don't think he'd be overly impressed. I may give Mr. Trump a slight history lesson about the Second World War when he'll just say, you know, when it comes to the blood spilt, our boys and girls have spilt their blood with just as much passion to the defence of freedom as any American soldier. What are the risks involved in a trip like this? Not just for the King, the Queen, the Palace, but for the UK. Well, I actually think that once they've announced it, and they did, there's no risk, because you're sending in the A-Team, you're sending in the King.

7:34And he's been doing this for many, many years. I don't think there's any risk that's going to be a problem in the relationship between Starmer and His Majesty the King. But, you know, you've got a rogue president, really. And I suspect as soon as the King's on the flight to Bermuda, I can imagine all sorts of things will come out. You know, if Mr. Trump wants to say that the king has said something about Starmer being a hopeless prime minister, you know, that would cause a massive incident. But I'm sure that he wouldn't say that to the king. I'm not sure he wouldn't necessarily say it afterwards, though.

8:02One thing that has been identified by people both sides of the Atlantic is that the king and the queen don't have room in their itinerary for a discussion, a meeting with some of the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse. That situation isn't going to change, is it? That's not going to change, Neil. But to be fair, I don't think it can change because there's ongoing investigations and it would really muddy the waters about what is actually this trip's about in terms of the relationship, special relationship between Britain and America. But look, I think there's a lot of sympathies, particularly for the Queen, who's campaigned tirelessly about abuse, particularly of domestic abuse of women.

8:35So look, I think if they could, they were, but they simply can't do it. There's investigations going on. I would stress also, of course, that, you know, I know that there'll be the media over there will be pushing this one, pressing this button, because it's going to get a lot of traction. And so are the congressmen involved in the whole shebang. But I don't think it's going to change. In fact, it's not going to change. And what I would say, though, is that, you know, at least in Britain, there have been some consequences to people involved with Epstein. We've got one woman in America, Ghislaine Maxwell, who's in prison.

9:02Andrew Hattman-Bak-Winsons has had his privileges stripped. And Peter Mandelson, you know, there's been consequences to his association with Epstein. I think American congressmen and American generally should probably focus on the Americans that are involved in this situation and let us deal with our end of the bargain. But given the stated purpose of this trip, 250th anniversary of the United States of America, I can see why, you know, the king, the queen would wish to be there during this time. But look, that Trump visit to the United Kingdom seemingly only happened, you know, five minutes ago.

9:33There has been a lot of tension existing between the Oval Office and Downing Street. I mean, how close to this trip getting cancelled did we get? Did we get at all close to it? I don't think so. I don't think so. I think that it was always going to happen. It is the king's role. It's what his job is, really. I mean, I think that there's a lot of senior people, I mean, me too, actually, thinking that they shouldn't. This is before it was announced. You know, the Dinmaube brothers, they don't agree on much, but they agreed that he shouldn't send the king. The reality is, once you announce it, you're going, and that's all there is to it.

10:03And the danger, the only danger I can see, is if Trump doesn't toe the line or pay due respect to our constitutional model, or even attacks our armed forces. But is he going to do that in front of the king? I don't think so. So what does a successful royal trip to the United States look like? What does the king and queen have to have achieved for it to be considered a success? Well, we'll have to wait and see what the president says in his speech, what the king says in his speech. I'm really interested in that. I think that the fact that the king is addressing Congress, I think that is a major success.

10:38My feeling is to make a success is that you've pulled the tension between Starmer and President Trump and that the lines of communication are well and truly open. What do you make of Donald Trump's fascination, naked fascination, I would say, with the royal family? Well, Donald Trump's mum was half Scottish. She went to America when she was about 16 and got a gentleman, came back, then went out again and married Donald Trump's father. But she was a very interesting lady. And I think that something of her Scottish roots must have rubbed off on the Donald because he's got golf courses in Scotland.

11:10He loves Scotland. He's got a lot of time for it, but in a sort of a United Kingdom sort of way, not in a sort of Sean Connery way, you know. Yeah, I think you may have a point there. But look, you talked earlier about the state visit that Donald Trump and Melania made to the United Kingdom as being a success. Why was it a success? What role did Charles play in it being a success? And what do we know about what happened when the cameras weren't pointed directly at them? The president spoke glowingly about it, publicly spoke glowingly about it. He spoke about how important it was to him and to the respect that he was shown in doing so, showing great respect to the American people.

11:48And we shouldn't underestimate the role of our wonderful German, in our royal family, Catherine, the Royal Highness, the Princess of Wales, who sat next to Trump and would have charmed his socks off, and William, the Prince of Wales, who, of course, met them as they got off their chopper. So I reckon that we gave them the four-wall shebang, and I think that he really appreciated it in a way that I don't think he did necessarily on his first visit when that late majesty of the Queen Elizabeth hosted him. I think that this last one, hosted by Charles III, was a massive success. And I think that actually Trump, who's been busy building another wing to the White House to accommodate all the functions that are going to go on, really wants to sort of roll out the red carpet for the king to say, you know, anything you can do, I can do better.

12:32Well, we shall see the ballroom still under construction for the time being at least. And look, Robert, we have spent the majority of our time talking about what this trip could mean for the British government, for the United Kingdom. I'm just wondering, what can Charles and Camilla personally benefit from this trip? Well, I think if Her Majesty the Queen and Her Majesty the King can have just stayed at a weekend in Highgrove, you know, pottering around, I think they'd probably prefer that. But the reality is they've got a job to do, and he's got to get on and do it. And I think once they're on it, I think they'll get into the flow of it.

13:02A team will make sure it goes smoothly, and they'll be there supporting him as much as possible. There'll be a big team of journalists going out there to cover it. It's going to be probably one of the biggest visits, certainly of this reign, and certainly in little memory. What is it like to cover a trip like this as a royal correspondent? How close do you get to the royals? Or are you just kind of sat at the back of the plane and you see them at a distance? No, no, we're not on the plane this time, but we have been in other tours. We're all having to find our own way and play our own way, which we do anyway.

13:30But it's a lot of getting in and standing around. That is true. You know, the security, they're estimating each time we go into a venue is to take three hours of security churches. But the reality is, it's a lot of standing around. Yes, as a member of the Royal Rota, which I still am, I get really quite up close and personal. We pick certain jobs we're going to see. I'm hoping, you know, it's the luck of a draw which jobs you get, but I hope to go back into the White House. Great memories of being there when the Lady of Majesty of Queen Elizabeth was there, and actually when the Prince of Wales visited.

13:59So I like to have a ringside seat to history, but I mean, if they had their way, you know, while they were in the White House, we'd be in a video link somewhere in Cincinnati if they would prefer that, I'm sure. I think people think it's a bit of a holiday start. You know, you're continually having to dress up and put your black tie jacket on and things like that and doesn't fit and trying to get your top button done up so you can put your black tie on and that doesn't fit. But that could just be me. We've talked an awful lot about Charles, who obviously was born into this role, who was groomed for it, who had been practising, whilst as Prince of Wales, the diplomatic side of things.

14:33What about Camilla? What role does she play on a visit like this? It's a very, very important role, actually, as a support to her husband, the king. I think in all of this, we are forgetting one massive thing. This is a guy that is doing all this whilst living with cancer. This is a man that, you know, I know we had good news before Christmas and it was good news that, you know, it's been less treatment and you can check all exactly what they said from the Paris online. But the reality is he is still living with cancer and he's doing his job. And I think that speaks volumes to the type of man he is and the man that he's sworn to do his duty all of his life.

15:09Robert, been an absolute pleasure talking to you. enjoy the trip and hopefully you'll get back here safe and sound in one piece. Enjoy yourself. Oh, it's good to switch to do it anytime. Thanks very much for the company this week. Do let us know your thoughts on this or any of the other episodes. We've covered the US blockade of Cuba, the civil war with the civil service, the AI too powerful to be released and more. Email me, why at sky.uk. We're back again Monday. Till then, do take care.

15:46I'm Sam Coates from Sky News. And I'm Anne McElvoy from Politico. Downing Street drama, leadership battles and policy U-turns. We're on it before it breaks. We take you straight into the rooms where the real political conversations are happening. Smart Insight, clear analysis in your feeds by 7.45am. So you start your morning fully brief for the day ahead in British politics. Hit follow and listen to Politics at Sam & Anne's wherever you get your podcasts.