THE experts will tell you that our Royal Family dazzled the President of the United States with pomp, pageantry and all the gilded trappings of ancient history.
In fact, thanks to our King, was a triumph of substance over style.
King Charles ensured that Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK was a total success
Support for the monarchy is at an all-time low among the young, and they are wrong not to appreciate the royals
Yes, of course the British do these lavish royal rituals better than anyone.
From the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps to the , the carefully choreographed ceremony is designed to inspire awe. And it does.
But what really mattered was what III said when he stood up to address the 47th President of the .
Charles spoke of the that this country and the US fought together.
Charles spoke of our common bonds of language, culture and blood. But the King did not duck the more difficult stuff.
Charles talked of trade — to this most isolationist of American Presidents.
He spoke of the environment — to a POTUS who wants to, “Drill, baby, drill!”
And most importantly our King clearly and unequivocally made sound like he was in a long line of tyrants who have threatened Europe’s liberty.
Charles dared to speak these words of truth to a President — and honoured guest — who has frequently displayed a soft spot for Mad Vlad.
But unlike everyone else on this planet, III does not tiptoe around like he is in a minefield.
Charles is unfailingly polite to everyone but defers to no one.
The King’s voice was soft but the sentiment was crystal clear.
“Our countries have the closest defence, security and intelligence relationship ever known,” Charles said at Trump’s state banquet.
In two world wars, we fought together to defeat the forces of tyranny.
“Today, as tyranny once again threatens , we and our allies stand together to support , to deter aggression and secure peace.”
It was an astonishing speech — not just for the words, which were electric — but for the gentle tone of voice.
This was, literally, a speech that could change the course of European .
Diplomacy masterclass
Because you wondered, after his historic second state visit to the UK, how can Trump ever suck up to Putin again?
King Charles III has turned out to be a far greater monarch than anyone ever anticipated.
And if you wanted to make a definitive case for retaining our monarchy, reflect on the day after the state banquet when Trump got to hang out with our political masters.
has struck up an unlikely partnership with Trump and it would be churlish to deny the PM credit.
But when Donald and Keir sniff tails, there is only one alpha dog in the kennels.
And within years — possibly months — Starmer will be history.
The King, however, is history.
And he speaks with the authority of the ages.
Earlier this month, a poll for the National Centre for Social Research declared that support for the monarchy is at an all-time low among the young, who are more likely to favour an elected head of state.
They will live and learn.
No politician in a cheap suit could have spoken to this volatile POTUS quite as directly as Charles did.
In this increasingly uncertain world, the King’s diplomacy masterclass with suggests that we need our more than ever.
LEFT’S NEVER RIGHT
If Labour dispense with Sir Keir Starmer as leader then the country should go straight to General Election
When Labour hit the skids, they come up with the same wacky solution: If only we were a bit more left-wing, comrades!
That’s why Labour chose the wrong Miliband brother to lead them in 2010.
That’s how they picked Jezbollah Corbyn to march them to disaster against in 2019.
That’s why Labour are now looking at and seeing a leader who is dangerously right-wing.
As Starmer lurches from crisis to crisis, it seems increasingly unlikely he will lead Labour into the next .
Whatever old white bloke replaces him – and Labour are always led by an old white bloke – he will be more left-wing than Starmer.
More of a tax fanatic. More free spending with public . Softer on . Hard to believe, I know.
But just you wait – Labour will press the eject button on calamity Keir and replace him with someone more left-wing.
At that moment, this country should have an election.
Because that new loony left Labour leader will have no mandate for his socialist Government.
THE African Union and the Community have joined forces to demand reparations from the UK for “colonial crimes”.
The bill is for £18trillion.
And that is just for the Caribbean nations!
And I wonder, will they be asking for reparations from the Ashanti people in what is now Ghana?
The Ashanti were such prolific slave traders that they built an empire on it.
And if they are not demanding reparations from the descendants of African slave traders – er, why not?
A ROD OF IRON
AT an age when many of his contemporaries are contemplating installing a stairlift, has had a 100-metre running track put in the garden of his pad.
“He wants to be the fastest 80-year-old,” says his wife, .
Rod was always fit. He is from a generation that believed is for playing as much as watching.
Even in the early Seventies, when was at its most hedonistic, I can recall Rod kicking footballs around the stage of the Rainbow, Finsbury Park, with his band The Faces.
With a ball at his feet and a bottle of Mateus Rosé in his hand, he looked like he was having fun. He still does.
Once Rod showed the world how to be young.
Now he is showing us how to grow old.
REDFORD: GOD’S IDEA OF A FILM STAR
Old-school star Robert Redford featured in some of the most beloved films of all time
Redford always looked like God’s idea of a film star, and also became a great director
ROBERT REDFORD, who has died at the age of 89, was the last of the old-school movie stars.
acted in some of the most beloved films of all time – from to The Sting to The Way We Were to Out Of Africa.
Brilliant director, too.
And – not least – Redford always looked like God’s idea of a star.
When spots him drunk in his Navy whites in The Way We Were, Robert Redford’s face looks more iconic than the sign.
BOLD TRUTH
Margot Robbie has been busy promoting her new movie A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
I WAS off to see the new film A Big Bold Beautiful Journey next week but the reviews are so uniformly lousy that I am having second thoughts.
Margot – in her first film since – is working furiously hard to sell her love-fantasy-drama, wearing FIVE different outfits in one day on the promo trail in .
Robbie looks magnificent.
But those reviews of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey? Not so much.
RICKY LIT UP BOXING
Ricky Hatton was one of the modern British boxing greats, and his death is heartbreaking
Modern British begins with .
The Hitman redefined the sport for the 21st century. The big fight as the best Saturday night out in the world.
The singalongs in packed arenas. It all starts with Ricky Hatton.
And his death at 46 has broken a nation’s heart.
The history books record Ricky’s greatest night was Saturday June 4, 2005, when he faced the allegedly unbeatable Russian-Australian Kostya Tszyu as the unfancied underdog, and rendered Tszyu unable to come out for the final round.
In reality, because of an American TV deal, the fight did not start until just before 3am.
By the time we staggered out of the MEN Arena, the sun was already coming up – on , and the rebirth of British boxing.
And just over 20 years later, I can still feel the visceral thrill of that spellbinding Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Ricky Hatton was the consummate showman – the Manc who fought like a Mexican.
And Ricky was loved. For his huge, generous and fearless heart. For his humour, humility and the way his three defeats cut so deep – as if he had let us down.
Ricky Hatton never let us down. , half a lifetime too soon.
Rest well, champ. You will live forever in our hearts.
