Stand up to ‘tyranny’ of Putin

The King has urged Donald Trump to stand up to the “tyranny” of Vladimir Putin as he encouraged the US President to help bring peace to Ukraine and the Middle East.

In a speech at a lavish banquet honouring the US President’s historic second state visit to the UK, Charles praised Trump’s “personal commitment to finding solutions to some of the world’s most intractable conflicts, in order to secure peace”.

The words, which were written in agreement between Buckingham Palace and Downing Street, will be seen as a carefully-crafted message to the US President that he can use the power of his office – and close personal relationships with Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – to bring the wars in Ukraine and Gaza to an end.

The King also spoke passionately about the environment – in what could be seen as a pointed message about the US President’s massive expansion of oil and gas production under his second term.

Charles said: “In striving together for a better world, we also have a precious opportunity to safeguard and to restore the wonders and beauty of nature for the generations who follow us.

“We share the ambition and determination to preserve our majestic lands and waters; above all, to ensure that we have clean water, clean air and clean food.

“Our legacy for the next 250 years and beyond is to ensure that our children, grandchildren, and those who come after them, can experience the awe and magnificence of the natural treasures found in the countryside, on the coasts, in the seas and in the National Parks established by your predecessors and mine.”

In a powerful passage to mark the opening of the banquet at Windsor Castle, the monarch told Trump: “Our countries have the closest defence, security and intelligence relationship ever known.

“In two World Wars, we fought together to defeat the forces of tyranny. Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine to deter aggression and secure peace. And our Aukus submarine partnership, with Australia, sets the benchmark for innovative and vital collaboration.

“The successors of the British Redcoats and of George Washington’s Continental Army today stand shoulder-to-shoulder, brothers and sisters in arms, protecting the freedoms we both cherish.

“Our countries are working together in support of crucial diplomatic efforts, not least of which, Mr President, is your own personal commitment to finding solutions to some of the world’s most intractable conflicts, in order to secure peace.”

Charles said: “For my part, I have always admired the ingenuity of the American people; and the principles of freedom which your great democracy has represented since its inception.”

The state visit was held amid one of the biggest security operations by police in the UK, as protests took place in central London and in the town of Windsor.

Meanwhile, in Trump’s speech, he appeared to nod as the King spoke of the need to stand together in support of Ukraine.

He gave a more mixed reaction to the monarch’s passage, urging the protection of the environment, but did praise his host for his work in promoting Britain’s nature, from “restoring life to the rivers and streams” to “planting trees and gardens in its countryside.”

In words that will be welcomed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, amid ongoing fears of splits between the UK and US, Trump said of the relationship between the two countries: “The word special does not begin to do it justice.”

“We’re joined by history and faith, by love language and by transcendent ties and culture, tradition, ancestry and destiny.

“We’re like two notes in one chord or two verses of the same poem, each beautiful on its own, but really meant to be played together.

“The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal. It’s irreplaceable and unbreakable.”

Amid his supporters’ calls for the UK to do more to defend free speech, Trump added: “Together, we must defend the exceptional heritage that makes us who we are, and we must continue to stand for the values of the people of the English-speaking world, and we do indeed stand for that.

At one point, Trump praised the King for knowing the names of “every single person” in a line of “about 150” people whose hands the pair shook ahead of the banquet, even though “some of them had bad names, like X Y Z dash 3”.

Trump said the Princess of Wales was “so radiant and so healthy” and the King has also raised a remarkable son in His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, saying William was “Really amazing”.

He added: “We’ve gotten to know you and I think you’re going to have an unbelievable success in future.

“Melania and I are delighted to visit again with Prince William and to see Her Royal Highness, Princess Catherine, so radiant and so healthy; it’s so beautiful. It’s really a great honour, thank you.”

Among those who attended the state banquet at Windsor Castle were the chiefs of major US tech companies, including Apple’s Tim Cook and OpenAI’s Sam Altman.

The state visit will reach its climax on Thursday when Trump travels to the Prime Minister’s country residence of Chequers for lunch and political talks.

Over a meal of Dover sole and key lime pie, the two leaders are likely to celebrate billions of pounds worth of deals on tech and industry, as well as discuss the wars in Ukraine and Israel.

Both conflicts present a potential diplomatic headache for the talks, with Starmer keen to ask the US President to keep the pressure up on Vladimir Putin over a ceasefire in Ukraine, amid little progress in that war since the summit between US and Russian leaders in August.

The Prime Minister also wants to press Trump to help bring an end to the war in Gaza and to use his influence with Netanyahu.

Starmer is also ready to push ahead with recognising a Palestinian state, with the UK-imposed deadline looming ahead of next week’s UN General Assembly for Israel to meet a series of conditions on Gaza.

There is also the prospect that leaders will face questions at a post-lunch press conference about Jeffrey Epstein, a former friend of both Trump and Lord Peter Mandelson, who was sacked as UK ambassador to Washington last week over his links to the paedophile financier.

A Labour MP told The i Paper that Starmer “needs to show a bit of steel” with the US President and to stop being so “supplicant”.

The MP said: “Is he finally going to stand up to him a bit? Sometimes you have to call a spade a spade and most people think he’s a malevolent force in international politics.”

Amid the pomp and pageantry at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, Trump also held what was described as a short private meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales following lunch.

Kensington Palace said the meeting between William, Kate and the Trumps was “warm and friendly” and took place inside Windsor Castle.

No details of what was discussed by the two couples have been released by the Palace.

Just six members of the Royal Family joined the US President for lunch in the state dining room – the King, Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

They were also joined by Trump’s entourage and James Roscoe, who is the new interim ambassador to the US in place of Lord Mandelson, and the King’s key aides.

The Duchess of Edinburgh has left for an overseas tour and the Duke of Edinburgh is also away on a foreign trip.

The Princess Royal was not at the lunch.