King Charles III harbors a strong private dislike for Donald Trump, according to royal author Tina Brown, as the monarch prepares for a state visit to the United States next week.

King's Disdain for Trump

Brown, a former editor at Vanity Fair, reports that a royal advisor confided in her about the King’s ‘visceral’ disdain for the former President. This feeling was particularly fueled by Trump’s criticisms of Pope Leo XIV.

Focus on Interfaith Understanding

Throughout his decades as Prince of Wales, King Charles prioritized interfaith understanding. He even advocated for a shift in his royal title to ‘defender of faith’ rather than ‘the faith’.

Trump’s harsh rhetoric towards Pope Leo, accusing him of being ‘weak’ and catering to the ‘radical Left’, deeply troubled Charles.

Intervention with Trump

Brown also reveals that the King personally intervened in January when Trump questioned the commitment of NATO troops in Afghanistan. This prompted a rare public correction from the former President on his Truth Social platform.

This intervention was a significant departure from the usual pattern of Trump’s uncorrected insults.

State Visit Details

The upcoming state visit is intended to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. It will include a private tea with the President and First Lady, a commemoration of the September 11th attacks, and a historic address by King Charles to both houses of Congress.

King Charles will be only the second British monarch to address Congress, following Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. The royal couple will also travel to Virginia to engage with local communities and experience Appalachian culture.

Potential Complications

The visit is also shadowed by calls for a meeting between the King and Queen and victims of Jeffrey Epstein, a request complicated by ongoing legal investigations and the King’s constitutional role.

Despite strained relations between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Trump, the former President has stated that the visit will not be overshadowed by his disagreements with Sir Keir Starmer.

The palace hopes to use the visit to smooth over tensions and highlight the enduring alliance between the UK and the US.