King Charles ‘negotiated a minefield’ during Donald Trump meeting - with surprising result

King Charles has been hailed for delivering a masterclass in soft diplomacy after navigating a potentially tense and charged encounter with Donald Trump . The US President has already removed a tariff on a significant UK import following the official state visit of the King and Queen Camilla , and has described the monarch as “the greatest king in my book.” The visit - which was billed as the most important of the King’s reign so far - came after Trump heavily criticised Keir Starmer for the UK not playing a bigger role in the war in Iran, and bluntly stating “when we asked them for help, they were not there. When we needed them, they were not there.” Former royal editor Duncan Larcombe tells the Mirror that the four-day visit was an “absolute triumph” for the monarch. “He had the best part of 70 years practising for this, but this was the moment that put him under pressure," he says. He continues, "He was walking into a minefield, but he’s used his experience and his wisdom to negotiate his way through that minefield. I think it’s been King Charles at his absolute best. How difficult is it for King Charles to go to America when the President is clearly at war with his own PM? And yet, he nailed it. I think the Palace will consider it an absolute triumph." The British monarchy is expected to remain politically neutral, and no longer has a political or executive role, but Trump has made a number of statements about the King and the war in Iran. After Charles delivered an important speech to the US Congress, in which he argued the need for a strong Nato and help for Ukraine , Trump told delegates at the Oval Office that the King “would have probably helped us with Iran.” Duncan tells us: “Donald Trump has been trying to drag the King into this huge row over the war in Iran. But that just shows the ignorance of Trump - that he thinks he can pull the royal family into making political statements.” The state visit - which marked America’s 250th anniversary - also included a day in New York where the royal couple attended an event celebrating the work of the King’s Trust and showcasing the UK’s cultural impact on the city. Queen Camilla also visited New York Public Library to highlight her popular book club The Queen’s Reading Room and celebrate literature, with guests including Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker, and a farm in Virginia to learn about America's horseracing industry. Shortly after the visit ended, Trump announced on his Truth Social platform he was removing tariffs on Scottish whisky, saying “people have wanted to do this for a long time” and the King and Queen “got me to do something that nobody else was able to do without hardly even asking!”. The Scottish and UK governments had been lobbying the Republicans to end the 10% tariffs on the industry, as the US is the single biggest market for Scotland ’s whisky. A statement released from Buckingham Palace also said: “The King has been informed of President Trump’s warm gesture and sends his sincere gratitude for a decision that will make an important difference to the British whisky industry and the livelihoods it supports. “His Majesty will be raising a dram to the President’s thoughtfulness and generous hospitality as he departs the US after a most enjoyable State Visit for both Their Majesties in this special anniversary year.”