Martin Ivens, Columnist

King Charles Can Handle a Boorish White House

April 6, 2026 at 4:00 AM UTC

Martin Ivens is the editor of the Times Literary Supplement. Previously, he was editor of the Sunday Times of London and its chief political commentator.

Doing one’s duty.
Photographer: KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/AFP

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US President Donald Trump has declared on his social-media website that Britain should “go get your own oil” from the Persian Gulf and sneers, “you’ll have to start learning to fight for yourself, the USA won’t be able to help you anymore.” His defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, mocks “the big bad Royal Navy” too. To judge by this warmup, the timing of King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s visit to Washington next month is unpropitious.

Often, when the Anglo-American relationship is going through a sticky patch, His Majesty’s Government likes to send the royals to smooth ruffled feathers — but usually not while a quarrel is in full swing. Still, there are precedents for playing this gilt-edged diplomatic card.