Why Prince Charles' meeting with Donald Trump could be controversial
On a controversial state visit to the UK next month, US President Donald Trump is going to meet with Prince Charles.
Trump and the Prince of Wales could turn the meeting into an awkward one due to a diplomatically awkward exchange over climate change.
The pair are expected to meet for afternoon tea at Clarence House, which is the official residence of the Prince and his wife Camilla.
A state visit usually guarantees an audience with the Queen but visiting leaders don’t automatically get access to the Prince of Wales.
With Prince Charles’ office declining to comment publicly on the meeting or the agenda, there’s no official word from the Palace as to what the royal thinks about the upcoming meeting.
However, given Charles’ passionate and lifelong stance on environmentalism and Trump’s well-documented climate change scepticism, it’s likely that the issue is going to be discussed.
Prince Charles warned against "potentially catastrophic global warming" in a speech during a tour of the Caribbean in March.
"We demand the world's decision-makers take responsibility and solve this crisis," he said.
The most likely date for the afternoon tea between Trump and Prince Charles is June 3, which is the first day of the US President’s visit.
According to tradition, a state banquet is hosted by Queen Elizabeth and will take place on the first evening.
However, whether or not Charles even brings up the issue with politics isn’t certain. He recently promised in a BBC documentary to not meddle in matters of public debate.
"You know I've tried to make sure whatever I've done has been nonparty political, but I think it's vital to remember there's only room for one sovereign at a time, not two. So, you can't be the same as the sovereign if you're the Prince of Wales or the heir," said Charles.
"But the idea somehow that I'm going to go on exactly the same way if I have to succeed is complete nonsense because the two ... the two situations are completely different. You only have to look at Shakespeare plays, 'Henry V' or 'Henry IV, Part 1 and 2,' to see the change that can take place – because if you become the sovereign, then you play the role in the way that it is expected," he said.
"So, clearly ... I won't be able to do the same things I've done, you know, as heir, so of course you operate within the ... the constitutional parameters. But it's a different function."
This is, of course, once he takes on the role of the monarch. As he’s still a Prince, he’s going to give his opinion as freely as he already has been.