King Charles accused of ‘making a dirty deal with Donald Trump’
King Charles has been accused by critics of signaling a “coded” overture to Donald Trump during a high-profile speech to Congress – with some suggesting the monarch used his speech to quietly reinforce the value of royal association with the US president in return for huge legal and diplomatic support for his shamed brother Andrew Windsor and royal exile son Prince Harry.
The 77-year-old monarch’s speech, delivered during a four-day state visit to Washington, DC, was publicly framed as an attempt to reaffirm the historic alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States amid global instability, including ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Charles, accompanied by his wife Queen Camilla, 78, highlighted shared democratic values and marked the 250th anniversary of American independence, while also addressing recent violence at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Charles said: “The story of the United Kingdom and the United States is, at its core, one of reconciliation, renewal and remarkable partnership. From the bitter divisions of 250 years ago, we forged a friendship that has grown into one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”
However, a source familiar with diplomatic interpretations of the speech said the language had implications beyond its surface meaning.
They said: ‘There is a view in some quarters that Charles spoke in carefully calibrated terms – reinforcing the prestige the monarchy gives to Trump and telling him he could take advantage of it.
“But in return, it’s alleged that Charles made a pretty dirty, dirty deal with Trump to protect his disgraced brother Andrew and his son Harry.”
The backdrop to such speculation includes the ongoing investigation of the ex-Prince Andrew, 66, over his association with convicted perpetrator Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019.
Andrew has denied wrongdoing but settled a civil lawsuit in 2022 regarding sexual assault allegations.
In addition, Prince Harry, 41, has faced questions in the US over his visa status after admitting to drug use in his memoir Spare, prompting legal challenges to making his immigration records public.
Another source claimed that Charles’ speech could be interpreted as an attempt to work through these overlapping sensitivities.
They said: ‘The theory circulating is that Charles indicated, in coded terms, that Trump can lean on the respectability he believes royal connections provide – provided certain pressures are alleviated, whether it be Andrew-related scrutiny or the ongoing debate over Harry’s visa.
“Charles does not want his brother to be officially called to testify in the US about Epstein, and he wants his son left alone during the visa row.”
In his speech, Charles also drew attention to shared values and resilience in the face of violence.
He nodded to the latest assassination attempt on Trump, at this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner: “Let me say with unwavering determination: Such acts of violence will never succeed.”
Charles went on to acknowledge the broader geopolitical climate.
He added: “We meet in times of great uncertainty; in times of conflict from Europe to the Middle East, which pose enormous challenges for the international community.”
But a diplomatic insider cautioned against reading too much into the comments, suggesting the speech was in line with long-standing royal messages.
They said: “State visits are about continuity and reassurance – strengthening alliances, not negotiating legal outcomes. But when prominent figures like Charles and Trump are involved, speculation about every word is inevitable, especially given the surrounding controversies.”
