In case you missed it, there’s been an election in the US and it’s caused quite the stir there and around the world. Donald Trump will return to the White House in January 2025 as the 47th President, having left there in less than calm circumstances in January 2021 as the 45th incumbent. The last person to win two non concurrent terms was Grover Cleveland who occupied the Oval Office in the 19th century, just decades after British rule came to an end. And ever since, often when controversy swirls, come the jokey (or are they?) questions about whether The Monarch could reign again in the USA.
The answer to this debate could not be clearer and recent definitive proof arrived in a letter from Buckingham Palace sent in reply to a request to Queen Elizabeth II to impose her own royal rule on the country again. In 2015, a US based, politically minded correspondent asked Her Late Majesty if she would consider becoming the Queen of the USA after becoming disgruntled at the line up for Republican candidate in the then forthcoming 2016 elections, which Donald Trump would win.
The royal answer was categorical. It read ”I have been asked to write in response to your recent letter to The Queen in which you express your views about the American government. Whilst your views have been noted, you will appreciate, I am sure, that there can be no question of The Queen intervening in the affairs of another Sovereign state.”
(Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead (Public Domain))
The fact is that the United States has been an independent country for almost 250 years with a certain President Elect now planning a big party to mark that milestone in a few years time. America adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776, ending 442 days of conflict and 169 years of British control over its territories.
Although a reluctant King George III did recognise the Colonies as ‘’free, sovereign and independent states,’’ this concession did not come until 1783 through the Treaty of Paris. King George always believed that American independence was a ‘’desperate conspiracy’’ to separate British people in the Colonies from their mother country. However, his beliefs came to nought. America chose to be a republic, not a monarchy, and since then has elected presidents to serve four year terms. Enter Donald Trump, once again.
)Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead (Public Domain))
Only two reigning Monarchs have ever visited the United States. King George VI was the first with Queen Elizabeth II making many visits throughout her long reign. And one of the major moments of Donald Trump’s first presidency came in 2019 when he undertook one of the highest profile State Visits ever to the UK.
In fact, it’s his turn to host. State Visits are designed to boost relationships between the countries involved and, despite controversy about Labour party members going to the US to support the Democrat candidate, Kamala Harris, in the final part of the campaign, Sir Keir Starmer has already spoken publicly of his desire to do business with Donald Trump in the few hours since the Republican politician’s victory was confirmed.
It could well be that King Charles and Queen Camilla head to the White House for a glittering reception from Number 47. But if they do turn up, it’s as friends not conquerors. There is nothing to suggest that the new Carolean court has any intention of altering the strong Anglo-American relationship that currently exists between the two countries.
