King Charles III has sent congratulations to Donald Trump on his inauguration as the 47th American president.
The British monarch, 76, underscored the importance of the “special relationship” between the U.K. and the U.S. in the private correspondence, Buckingham Palace confirmed.
The news came minutes before Trump arrived at the Capitol Rotunda for his inauguration alongside JD Vance.
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Why It Matters
Trump’s second term as president is expected to be a rough ride at points for Britain’s Labour Party Prime Minister Keir Starmer, not least because some Labour staffers flew to America to assist in campaigning for Kamala Harris.
However, Trump has been outspoken about his love for the British royal family and is expected to be significantly warmer to the king and Prince William than to Downing Street.
What to Know
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King Charles sent a personal message congratulating Trump on his inauguration and while the exact wording has not been revealed, Buckingham Palace indicated that it reflected on the enduring special relationship between the two countries.
It is not known exactly when it was sent but the existence of the message was revealed shortly before Trump arrived for his inauguration.
Prince William was dispatched to build bridges with Trump at the end of 2024 during the reopening of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.
At the time, in December, they held a one-on-one meeting and Trump spoke positively about the future king when later asked about the encounter.
What People Are Saying
Buckingham Palace said King Charles’ message to Donald Trump reflected on the enduring special relationship between Britain and America.
President Trump said after meeting Prince William in France in December: “He looked really, very handsome last night. Some people look better in person. He looked great. He looked really nice, and I told him that.”
What Happens Next
All eyes will be on whether there will be a state visit by Trump to Britain, or by the king to America and if so when.
Queen Elizabeth II met every U.S. president of her reign apart from Lyndon Johnson and for Charles, Trump would be meeting his second president since he began his reign as king, though he met others during his time as Prince of Wales.
Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about Charles and Camilla, William and Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.
