Trump makes dig at Prince Harry after praising William as King Charles’ ‘remarkable son’ in state banquet speech
President Trump appeared to make a thinly veiled dig at Prince Harry in his powerful speech during Wednesday’s lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle.
In a formal address made before 150 esteemed dignitaries, the commander in chief heaped praise on King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Catherine, as well as the “special relationship” the US boasts with the UK.
“This is truly one of the highest honors of my life, I have such respect for you and such respect for your country for many decades,” Trump said during the dinner, adding that the king had preserved “the glorious and unique character of this kingdom.”
While praising the Prince of Wales, the president said to Charles that he had raised a “remarkable son” — with no mention of the king’s estranged youngest son, who had quit royal life in 2020 and moved to the US.
Trump also highlighted the king’s philanthropic work in a comment that could be seen as a subtle swipe at the Duke of Sussex.
The king “uplifted the poor, cared for rural farmers, and tended to wounded veterans like nobody else,” Trump said, before continuing his warm words for the British royals.
He added that the future king, 43, is “going to have an unbelievable success in the 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, so beautiful. It’s really a great honor,” he added.
“We had a very sick country one year ago. And today I believe we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world.”
“Together we’ve done more good for humanity than any two countries in all of history,” added Trump, who is the first ever US leader to receive an invitation for a second state visit in the UK.
Charles, for his part, paid homage to the UK’s long-standing relationship with the US during a warm-worded speech about the President and First Lady Melania Trump.
“Had the media succeeded in the 1970s in their own attempt at deepening the special relationship, I myself might have been married off within the Nixon family,” the king quipped.
“Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace.
“Our countries have the closest defense, security and intelligence relationship ever known,” the monarch, 76, added.
The king’s sentiment was echoed by Trump, who said describing the UK-US relationship as “special” does not begin to do it “justice.”
It comes just weeks after the king appeared to leave Harry out of his own speech during a state banquet hosted in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit in July.
During the dinner, Charles stood up from his seat and read aloud a poignant speech that featured candor, laughs and a warm reference to William and Catherine’s family.
Notably, however, there was no mention of the “Spare” author as Charles heaped praise on “my son” William.
