Prince Harry's Swipe At Donald Trump Could Make US Visit Awkward For King Charles
Harry asked the US to fulfill its promises to war-torn Ukraine as Charles gears up for US state visit.
Prince Harry has been known for saying a lot of things about the royal family, and that has only widened the rift between him and his father. But now he has done something that could put King Charles III in a tough spot, with his unexpected trip to war-torn Ukraine, where he took a not-so-subtle swipe at US President Donald Trump while speaking at the Kyiv Security Conference.
Addressing the US directly, Harry stated in no uncertain terms that it was time for the country to fulfil its promises to Ukraine, since it had been one of the guarantors when Ukraine surrendered its nuclear arsenal under the Budapest Memorandum, in exchange for assurances of sovereignty and territorial integrity. According to GB News, he said, “This is a moment for American leadership, a moment for America to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations.”
However, the statements might have come at the wrong time, as far as Buckingham Palace is concerned, as King Charles and Queen Camilla are gearing up for their very own state visit to the US next week. It is widely believed that the monarchs are crossing the Atlantic to douse fires that have engulfed relations between the US and the UK.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson had mentioned that the state visit “recognises the challenges the United Kingdom, the United States, and our Allies face across the world; this visit is a moment to reaffirm and renew our bilateral ties as we address those challenges together, in the UK's national interest”. Given the sensitive nature of Charles and Camilla’s trip stateside, the Duke of Sussex has possibly put the two in a tight spot by hitting out at Trump, especially since the monarchs will be joining the US President and the First Lady, Melania Trump, for a private tea next week. The US visit will play a key role in improving the UK's diplomatic relations with the US, considering the recent volatile equation between the two countries.
Along with Trump, Harry also called on other global leaders to act in support of the country, currently being ravaged by war. “Ukraine has already given its answer. Now it is time for the rest of us to give ours,” he said. In his rousing speech, Harry also echoed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s stance on defending the country’s fundamental right to exist. “The question is no longer whether Ukraine will stand. You have already answered that. The question is: Will the rest of the world match your resolve?” he asked. The Duke ended his speech with the Ukrainian rallying cry, “Slava Ukraini”. This was the 41-year-old's third visit to Ukraine.
During the state visit, Charles will also address a joint meeting of Congress. After the US trip, Charles will continue a solo tour to Bermuda, which will mark his first visit to a British Overseas Territory as a monarch.
