Donald Trump couldn’t hide his royal fandom, even when he wasn’t on the mic. During a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle, the president was spotted chatting with King Charles before speeches began. Per The Express, a lip-reader, Jeremy Freeman, caught the private moment and says Trump turned to the monarch with a gush of admiration, “It’s so incredible, it’s what you do so well.” Whether you’re a royal watcher or a political junkie, the subtext was loud and clear, Trump was impressed.
The flattery fit the mood of the night. This trip marked Trump’s unprecedented second U.K. state visit, a pageant of pomp that included a formal welcome, a glittering banquet at St George’s Hall, and a farewell ceremony the next day.
President Donald J. Trump and His Majesty King Charles III
🇺🇸🤝🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/bH0LXRdw6P
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 17, 2025
Trump called being hosted again by the British sovereign one of the highest honors of his life and leaned hard into the “special relationship,” praising the alliance as timeless and essential. He reminded the room of his own Scottish roots through his mother, Mary, and framed the U.S.–U.K. bond as family more than diplomacy.
On the dais, the president showered praise on the royals, particularly the Prince and Princess of Wales. He labeled Prince William “really amazing” and “remarkable,” and even added that he expects William to have “unbelievable” success ahead. Catherine, he said, looked “so healthy, so beautiful,” a line that drew smiles across the head table. The lovefest extended to Charles himself, whom Trump lauded for a lifetime of public service and hands-on engagement with everyday Britons.
Trump walks into a royal banquet, cracks a joke mid-speech,
and even gets King Charles himself laughing.That’s not politics.
That’s presence. pic.twitter.com/XpXTB6tLft— Dr. Lucien Wolfe 🇺🇸 (@LucienWolfe111) September 17, 2025
At one point, Trump quipped that he hopes this is the “last” time he’s welcomed for an official tour, a wink suggesting he knows just how rare a second invite is. And rare it is, modern leaders don’t typically score two full state visits. This one came with all the trimmings, from the Guards on parade to vintage wines and a curated musical set list. The message was unmistakable, the palace rolled out the red carpet, and Trump, for his part, stayed on script and soaked it in.
Beyond the sparkle, the trip carried serious business. The banquet set the tone for meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, followed by a joint press conference and a high-powered business reception led by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Talk of tech cooperation, investment pledges and trade friction points was thick in the air, even as the sideshow of protests and political sniping hummed in the background. Still, both leaders framed the partnership as bigger than any single row.
King Charles to Trump:
“In two world wars we fought together to defeat the forces of tyranny. Today, as tyranny once again faces Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine to deter aggression and secure peace.” pic.twitter.com/58NludlOCu
— Adam Schwarz (@AdamJSchwarz) September 17, 2025
If you’re keeping score, the optics were a win for the royals and a sugar high for the White House. Trump got the images, the gold, the grandeur, the handshake with the King, and he responded with exactly the sort of royal flattery that plays on both sides of the Atlantic. The off-mic compliment only sealed the vibe, this was a president genuinely admiring a monarch’s craft.
And that, in the end, may be the real takeaway. In an era where hot mics usually catch gaffes, this one caught something rarer, a glimpse of authentic respect.
