When it comes to Britain's future king Prince William, President-elect Donald Trump radiates warmth and admiration – a sharp contrast to his open antipathy toward Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The paths of William and Trump crossed Saturday at Notre Dame Cathedral's reopening ceremony in Paris, where cameras captured Trump greeting a line of dignitaries, including a notably warm exchange with William that included a paternal shoulder pat.
The two leaders later convened for a private meeting at the British Embassy in Paris. After a brief photo session where Trump hailed William as "a good man doing a fantastic job," they engaged in a 40-minute discussion focusing on US-British relations and global challenges.
Sky News reported that palace sources noted Trump sharing "warm and loving memories" of William's late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Their previous encounter occurred during Trump's June 2019 state visit to Britain, where he attended a grand state dinner at Buckingham Palace hosted by Queen Elizabeth and the royal family, with Princess Kate among the attendees. Trump was accompanied by his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The former president's relationship with the British Royal Family has weathered various storms, often triggered by his controversial remarks, despite the cordial meeting with William and fond recollections of the late Queen. Speaking to Tucker Carlson's documentary series about King Charles' cancer diagnosis, Trump expressed hope for his recovery, noting, "He's really a good person. Queen Camilla is fantastic." Trump has consistently voiced admiration for the British monarchy, describing it as one of Britain's most cherished emblems.
Yet Trump's history with the royals includes controversial moments, such as his eyebrow-raising comment about potentially having a romantic relationship with Princess Diana shortly after her 1997 death in Paris. In 2012, he sparked outrage by declaring Princess Kate had "only herself to blame" after paparazzi captured long-lens photos of her sunbathing.
Kate Middleton is great--but she shouldn't be sunbathing in the nude--only herself to blame.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 17, 2012
The warm reception of William stands in stark contrast to Trump's open disdain for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Trump has been unabashedly critical of the couple, particularly Meghan, whom he branded a "terrible woman," accusing her of "destroying" Harry and his royal ties. Their departure from royal duties and relocation to California particularly irked Trump, who viewed it as damaging to royal dignity.
Trump's disapproval extends to their involvement in American public discourse, which he considers unwelcome interference. He has publicly called for their return to Britain, insisting that "America shouldn't fund their security or lifestyle." His most scathing rebuke followed their revealing Oprah Winfrey interview discussing racism within the royal family and Meghan's mental health challenges, with Trump declaring "They're embarrassing all of Britain."
In a recent GB News interview, Trump addressed Prince Harry's visa status, suggesting that if he had misrepresented his drug use history on his application, "appropriate measures should be taken" without special consideration, potentially including deportation. This scrutiny emerged after Harry's admissions in Spare about his past use of cocaine, cannabis, and psychedelic mushrooms, raising questions about his visa application disclosures.
