TL:DR – Could King Charles be the UK’s ‘hidden asset’ in negotiations with Trump?
- Donald Trump’s threats regarding Greenland have caused global concern.
- Royal expert Duncan Larcombe suggested King Charles III might calm Trump during his anticipated US visit in April.
- Trump’s admiration for the Royal Family could facilitate dialogue.
- Larcombe emphasised the King’s limited power compared to his mother but noted Trump respects the Royals.
- The situation reflects a potential diplomatic rift between the UK and US over Greenland.
Could King Charles be the UK’s ‘secret weapon’ when dealing with Trump? | News UK

As Trump’s threats increase, the UK could use King Charles to calm him down (Picture: Reuters)
As Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland continue to wreak havoc in the global order, an expert has suggested an unlikely person who could calm down his outlandish plans.
It’s well known that Trump has an infatuation with the Royal family – something royal expert Duncan Larcombe thinks is due to his mother’s Scottish roots and his own business interests in the UK.
‘For Trump, the ‘Special Relationship’ is something he holds quite dear. But Trump will be Trump,’ Larcombe told UK News.
The King is due to visit the United States in April, a trip which some have suggested should be cancelled over Trump’s tariff threats regarding Greenland.
Larcombe said that during a US visit, it would be down to Charles personally to ‘test the waters’ with Trump.
‘If they end up having a full and frank conversation, who knows what Charles might say?
‘The King doesn’t have the same power his mother had. But with a president who is so friendly toward Britain and the Royal Family, there is every chance Donald Trump might listen to him,’ he added.

Diana’s dance with John Travolta in 1985 was hailed as a diplomatic win (Picture: AP)

Larcombe argues that Charles doesn’t have as much sway as his mother, but still has Trump’s respect (Picture: PA)
In the past, Royals have been used as sort of diplomatic ‘weapons’ – when Charles and Diana met Ronald Reagan, Diana famously danced in the White House with John Travolta, which was heralded as a huge diplomatic success for the UK.
Larcombe stressed: ‘But then again, this isn’t like any other president.
‘I do believe this is the first time that there is a very serious potential for a falling out between Britain and America, specifically over Greenland.
‘This could be an instance where the King might be able to provide a gentle reminder to Trump: ‘Remember, we’re your friends, not your enemies.’

Trump reportedly respects the royals (Picture: AFP)

Trump previously met Queen Elizabeth during a state visit (Picture: AFP)
Even if the pair have a sit down during King Charles’ expected visit to the US this spring, the royal will have to tread ‘very carefully’.
‘Trump is a divisive character, and he is losing a lot of friends in Europe very quickly over his stance on Greenland,’ Larcombe explained.
‘But the Royal Family—King Charles in particular—is a secret weapon for dealing with Trump. The US has a president who is a narcissist and who gets upset with anyone who criticises him.
‘However, he holds a huge degree of respect for the Royal Family. I think he would take what King Charles said to him extremely seriously.’
Trump has shared increasingly worrying threats over his aim to buy Greenland and make it a US territory.
Today on social media, he shared an AI image of himself with JD Vance and Marco Rubio, planting an American flag in Greenland with a sign reading ‘Greenland US Territory, est 2026.’

