The King’s Speech, that set piece pageant of pomp, pomposity, unfathomable costumes, carriages and customs that bemuse and delight foreign tourists while infuriating republicans is always worth watching to see the body language between MPs as they enter the Lords. Forced together by tradition, some put on a brave face, others seem to manage an amiable meander together as Starmer and Sunak did, likewise Reeves and Hunt. Nigel Farage managed to pop by before heading off to see his mate Trump, no doubt peeved that the former president had spoken on the phone to Keir Starmer shortly after the assassination attempt, scuppering the nonsense that if he wins the US election, the only channel through which Trump would engage with the UK is through the Reform leader.
Getting somewhat less coverage and without the daft costumes, a few days earlier, the King hosted a meeting attended by several members of cabinet, the actor Idris Elba and the Prime Minister to discuss youth violence. This was more than a royal welcome, Charles III seemed genuinely engaged and said he would be watching to see what progress the new government makes. While he has been criticised for being too political in the past, the King has a track record in his interest and commitment to the environment, homelessness, mental health and youth violence – he set up the Prince’s Trust, now the King’s Trust, because of his concern about young people caught up in the riots of the 1980s.
It’s hard to imagine the late Queen being so openly engaged with the pressing social issues that present such challenges and blight so many lives and there is no doubt the monarch must work within constitutional parameters, but his convening power is enormous and his influence should not be under estimated. It’s understood that it was Charles who offered to host a reception for leaders attending the European Political Community (EPC) summit this week and the presence of the Francophile King will not harm the government’s attempts to reset relations with Europe to boost trade and security. Should Donald Trump be re-elected there’s no doubt that a state visit will help what may be a difficult chapter in the so-called special relationship between the UK and the USA.
There seems to be something of a rapport between our new Prime Minister and the King and much as anti-monarchists may wish it were otherwise, it’s the undercurrents of diplomacy, influence and back channel networks that often yield results. Look at David Lammy, often criticised by those who think he’s not up to the job of Foreign Secretary – his networking powers and fluent French helped ensure that Keir Starmer was at the D Day commemorations – you know, the one that Sunak left early. In the US, Lammy is well known in Democrat circles but he’s also spoken at conservative events there, telling the Hudson Institute in May that he “gets the agenda that drives ‘America first’”. The Foreign Secretary is already been building bridges with Trump’s controversial running mate, JD Vance saying that their shared working class and Christian backgrounds give them common ground.
After years of shouting, ranting and bridge burning, we might start to see something of a restoration of Britian’s global reputation – the King and Keir could be a powerful double act.
