During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II apparently expressed frustration with officials from China, describing them as “very rude” after a significant state visit. This revelation emerged in a discussion on the podcast The Royals with Roya and Kate, where hosts Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey recounted the Queen’s candid remark.
While discussing President Donald Trump’s upcoming state visit, the presenters recalled the 2015 visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. They noted that the Queen was overheard at a garden party commenting that dealing with some Chinese officials “hasn’t been easy.” Xi Jinping’s visit to the UK took place from October 19 to October 23, 2015, marking a pivotal moment in UK-China relations.
The conversation about past state visits came amid preparations for Trump’s anticipated second state visit to the UK, likely to happen in September but not yet officially confirmed by Buckingham Palace. An official invitation, called a “Manu Regia,” was delivered to Washington last month, signaling progress toward the event.
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Although a private meeting between King Charles and Donald Trump was planned, scheduling conflicts prevented it from occurring. Additionally, reports from The Times suggest tensions between Buckingham Palace and Downing Street over the timing of the visit, partly due to Trump’s controversial remarks about Canada. Trump has previously suggested Canada should become the United States’ 51st state—a comment that reportedly strained relations, especially considering King Charles recently opened Canada’s Parliament in Ottawa.
Despite these challenges, there is hope that Trump’s state visit will foster stronger ties and benefit the UK as it navigates a shifting global landscape marked by increased US economic and political isolationism.
In April, Trump expressed enthusiasm about the visit, calling it a “fest” and praising his relationship with King Charles and the royal family. He remarked, “They’re going to do a second, as you know, a second fest… that’s what it is: a fest, and it’s beautiful, and it’s the first time it’s ever happened to one person.”
Trump’s previous state visit in 2019, hosted by the late Queen Elizabeth II, lasted three days and set a precedent for this forthcoming occasion.