During his second state visit to the UK, President Donald Trump took a brief five-minute tour of priceless crown artifacts, despite his professed admiration for the Royal Family. Upon arriving at Windsor Castle, he explored the Green Drawing Room and showed interest in various items from the Royal Collection related to the special relationship. Notably, he was intrigued by artifacts on the “fun fun fun” table, such as an art deco penguin-shaped cocktail shaker and a letter from the Queen Mother to a young Queen Elizabeth II about her experience with hot dogs in America.
Although Trump has expressed his fondness for the royals and praised King Charles as an “elegant gentleman”, he spent less than five minutes viewing the items but expressed enthusiasm throughout the tour. He repeatedly described the letters, paintings, and photographs as “fantastic”, “wonderful”, and “the real deal”.
Accompanied by the King, Trump interacted with archivists and appreciated the displayed items, particularly those related to American Independence. Meanwhile, the Queen and the First Lady strolled together, with the First Lady wearing a hat that partially obscured her face, admiring 18th-century floral and fauna paintings.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, closely examined the artifacts, engaging with librarians and asking numerous questions. The Princess was particularly interested in the artists’ names and pondered the future of communication compared to handwritten letters.
As the royal party explored the exhibits, Prince William inquired about a long message from President James Buchanan to Queen Victoria, marking the first transatlantic communication. He praised the experts from the Royal Collection for their knowledge and sought Trump’s input on pronunciation.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester completed the royal ensemble of six members who had a lunch meeting with the American visitors before the tour. During the tour, Trump was presented with the Georgian Papers on American independence, which he had specifically requested beforehand.
The President examined various historical documents, including letters from King George III, maps depicting revolutionary events, and an essay by King George III on post-independence trade with America. He also appreciated a letter from Abraham Lincoln to Queen Victoria and a letter from the Queen Mother to Queen Elizabeth II regarding their experience with hot dogs.
Furthermore, Trump admired a copy of President Eisenhower’s memoirs gifted to King George VI, reflecting on their mutual respect and friendship post-World War II. The royal family members present at the private lunch included the King, Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, with the Princess Royal expected to join for the evening banquet.