SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

State & Ceremonial

President Trump and The Royal Family – a difficult relationship in the making

President of the United States, Donald J Trump, is undertaking his first State Visit to the United Kingdom this week – a much-anticipated event. When the American billionaire arrives at Buckingham Palace following a ceremonial welcome, all will seem well between The Royal Family and the American President. However, the atmosphere will likely be tense behind closed doors – not least because of some of the things the 72-year-old has said (or tweeted) in the past.

Some of the most publicised comments he has made relating to the Royal Family was regarding the late Diana, Princess of Wales. A few months after her tragic death in Paris aged 36, Mr Trump appeared as a guest on the Howard Stern Show – an American talk radio show. During his appearance, he said that he believes he could have slept with the Princess, and described her as having “supermodel beauty.”

Speaking to The Sunday Times, broadcaster Selina Scott, who spent two weeks following Donald Trump for a profile said the tycoon pursued Diana to the point of “stalking” in the belief he “had a shot” with her.

Miss Scott claimed his belief was mistaken, and in reality, he gave Diana “the creeps”, reportedly sending expensive bouquets of flowers to Kensington Palace. Miss Scott also claimed that Trump told friends that his biggest regret after Diana died was that they never dated. A few months ago, the President-Elect said that reports he was romantically interested in Diana were “so false.”

Other members of The Royal Family he will have an interesting first meeting with include the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. As previously reported by Royal Central, back in September 2012, topless photos were taken of the Duchess of Cambridge while on holiday were published in a French magazine. The Royal Family were outraged by the breach of privacy, which was backed by many British publications who refused to purchase the photos. Legal challenges are ongoing, with a trial expected to take place in May 2017.

One person who celebrated the release of the photos, however, was soon to be President Donald Trump. In a tweet, Trump said: “Who wouldn’t take Kate’s picture and make lots of money if she does the nude sunbathing thing. Come on Kate!

“Kate Middleton is great–but she shouldn’t be sunbathing in the nude–only herself to blame.”

The victim blaming towards the Duchess of Cambridge will not have gone down well in the royal household. The couple’s sincerity on the matter has only been solidified in recent months, as they continue to pursue legal claims four years after publication.

However, on the other side of the coin, it isn’t just Donald Trump who has said things about The Royal Family, members of the Queen’s family have also made comments about Trump that he will be less than pleased with.In November, The Duke of York attracted criticism after saying that a Donald Trump victory in the US presidential election, together with leaving the European Union, would “tear things apart.”

A couple of years ago, The Duke of York attracted criticism after saying that a Donald Trump victory in the US presidential election, together with leaving the European Union, would “tear things apart.”

The sixth-in-line to the throne said that Trump “seems to want to leave every organisation”.

Prince Andrew made the comments when speaking to some of the country’s most influential business leaders at an event held at Windsor Castle last week. However, as expected, some figures have said that the sixth-in-line to the throne should remain impartial on such issues.

The Queen’s son told the entrepreneurs present that: “There was a vote here recently where we agreed to leave one organisation, and there’s a man in the US who it seems wants to leave every organisation.“Combined, they could tear things apart.”

One of the newest members of The Royal Family’s comments towards President Trump will also not go unnoticed.

Before meeting Prince Harry, the Duchess of Sussex branded Trump as “misogynistic” and threatened to leave America if he became President.

In return, President Trump described the Duchess as being “nasty” in an interview earlier this week.