LONDON (Web Desk) – US President Donald Trump sparked debate after sharing details of a private conversation with Britain’s King Charles III during a state dinner at the White House.
Speaking at a banquet held in honour of King Charles and Queen Camilla, Trump said the British monarch agreed with him that Iran should never be allowed to have nuclear weapons.
“We are never going to let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, adding that King Charles agreed with him.
His comments drew attention in Britain because, by royal tradition, private talks with the king are usually kept secret.
Experts said members of the royal family are expected to stay above politics and do not normally take part in public political debates.
Craig Prescott, a constitutional expert at Royal Holloway, University of London, said such private discussions between world leaders are usually not made public.
He said British officials had hoped to avoid any awkward situation during the king’s visit.
Before the visit, there had been concerns over how Trump might behave because he is known for breaking diplomatic protocol.
However, Buckingham Palace later issued a statement saying King Charles remains mindful of the British government’s long-standing position against nuclear weapons spreading.
The statement was seen as an effort to provide context to Trump’s remarks.
Despite the controversy, experts said the issue was minor and could have been much worse.
Prescott said the visit had largely been a success and the king had handled it well.
Earlier, King Charles addressed a joint session of the US Congress, where he received repeated standing ovations.
In his speech, he praised the strong friendship between Britain and the United States while also touching on issues such as NATO, Ukraine and climate change.
Analysts said the king’s speech was well received in Washington and helped strengthen ties between the two allies.
After Washington, King Charles and Queen Camilla headed to New York, where the visit is expected to focus more on culture and creative industries rather than politics.
Observers said the most sensitive part of the royal visit may now be over.
