By Philip Yeung
The British Empire is just a memory. But its language still rules the world, and impinges on the UK-US transatlantic relationship.
The British monarch faced daunting challenges in addressing the US Congress, before an audience covering the diversity of a divided society.
He must somehow avoid rubbing thin-skinned Trump the wrong way but must not flinch from bilateral issues that are simmering below the surface, or he would appear cowardly and capable only of delivering platitudes. Diplomatic niceties alone won't save or serve Britain. The King must beard the lion in its den.
This is an awkward time for the royal visit as bilateral relations have sunk to a historic low. Charles arrived at a time when his prime minister and Trump are barely on speaking terms, with America threatening to withhold support for British sovereignty over the Falklands. There were calls for the visit to be cancelled. But chickening out may doom the ruptured relationship. Charles saw an opportunity where others saw a risk. He proved that he was made of sterner stuff.
Charles must look past the current administration to 2028 when the Democrats, lying in wait, may regain control. He needs bipartisan speak.
Consequently, the King weaponized three ingredients in his speech: history, humor and commonality.
Why history? This is after all the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence. By harking back to history, he stressed what binds the two countries together.
He cleverly inserted this sentence: that this special relationship was born out of a dispute. By implication, current disputes don't have to end disastrously. Throughout, Charles invoked the wisdom of five US presidents, from Washington, Lincoln, JFK, Ted Roosevelt to Trump himself. Trump may be a 24-carat fool, but he is a sucker for a place in history.
King Charles began by using Oscar Wilde's humorous quote that Britain and America are two countries with everything in common except their language. How true!
King Charles speaks the language of royalty, and Trump the language of gangsters who dwell in the gutter with their "F" words. Trump behaves like a pirate (his own words) and speaks like one. Charles is the picture of regal civility.
He indirectly chided Trump for ignoring the checks and balances on executive power, by citing the Magna Carta and obliquely criticized Trump's anti-immigrant policies, by praising America's living mosaic, diversity and interfaith tolerance.
He made a pitch for peace, and against "turning ploughshares into swords" in waging unilateral wars.
He couldn't resist a dig at Trump's climate denial by appealing for jointly safeguarding nature.
King Charles refused to abandon his prime minister Starmer who is currently in Trump's doghouse, by echoing his call that both countries build on their "indispensable partnership".
In diplomatically covering all bases, Charles had set a gold standard in state-to-state dialogue.
King Charles did not come to beg, or to appease. He came to calm and repair--and that he did, delicately and diplomatically, the way royals are groomed for.
The King's remarks sometimes cut close to the bone, but he cleverly softened up his host by quoting Trump himself, that "The bond of kinship between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal." Thus flattered, Trump uncharacteristically admitted that he was jealous of the King's oratorical talents.
King Charles parodied Charles Dickens, saying that this story began as the tale of "two Georges"—George Washington and his ancestor George III.
He could have said that this is now continued as the tale of two kings—one constitutional, the other pseudo.
By all accounts, Charles has more than met his mission. Cynics, however, might doubt the durability of this repair work, as Trump is famous for flip-flops.
Of this, however, there can be no doubt: this speech is an act of self-redemption, magically repairing the King's own image tarnished by the Princess Diana tragedy. Much of British royalty is damaged goods, disgraced Andrew included. But in Washington, King Charles was royalty worthy of worship.
King Charles is, without doubt, a far better public speaker than his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Her speeches lacked emotional connection. Her son not only has a silver tongue, but also a humorous heart and a stiff spine.
After marrying Camilla, Charles mounted a campaign to "make Camilla less vanilla", with little success. But both are leaving Washington with their royal chins held high.
The euphoria may not endure, but on this occasion, Charles was every inch a king, his royal image successfully speech-washed. One golden speech, before an adoring Congress, and the British monarchy is back to being relevant and respected again.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
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