Queen Elizabeth II’s Views on Donald Trump: The Truth Behind Alleged Rudeness Claims
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/22nd August 2024
Recent claims regarding Queen Elizabeth II’s opinion of former President Donald Trump have stirred debate, with new revelations suggesting the late monarch found Trump to be “gracious” and “wonderful,” contrary to allegations of rudeness. According to a former Buckingham Palace official, these claims directly challenge assertions made in Craig Brown’s forthcoming biography, A Voyage Around the Queen. Brown’s book reportedly suggests that the Queen was privately displeased with Trump’s behavior during their meetings.
The biography alleges that Queen Elizabeth expressed frustration with Trump’s conduct, particularly his habit of looking over her shoulder during their interactions. Brown also suggests that the Queen questioned the authenticity of Trump’s marriage to Melania, speculating about the nature of their relationship.
However, a former aide with intimate knowledge of the Queen’s views has dismissed these allegations as false. In a statement to The Post, the aide emphasized, “I know this to be untrue, firsthand.” The aide, who spoke after the State visit, described the Trump family as “really gracious and wonderful guests” and affirmed that the Queen had a positive impression of them.
During Trump’s presidency, he and his family were hosted by Queen Elizabeth on two notable occasions: a working visit in July 2018 and a state visit in June 2019. The Trump family, including Melania and their children Ivanka, Donald Jr., Eric, and Tiffany, stayed at Buckingham Palace during the state visit. According to the former staffer, the Queen found them to be a delightful presence in the palace.
The allegations in Brown’s book contrast sharply with these reports. According to Brown, the Queen’s private comments about Trump included dissatisfaction with his behavior and skepticism about his marital relationship. This depiction of the Queen’s private sentiments suggests a different narrative from the one provided by her former aide.
The former aide further argued that the Queen’s approach to hosting was not about adhering strictly to protocol but about making guests feel comfortable. The aide recounted that the Queen’s focus was on being a gracious host rather than enforcing traditional etiquette. This perspective highlights a contrast with the notion that the Queen was perturbed by Trump’s protocol breaches, such as walking in front of her during a Guard of Honor inspection or placing his hand on her back during a state banquet.
Despite these protocol breaches, which are traditionally viewed as violations of royal etiquette, the former aide insisted that the Queen’s primary concern was ensuring her guests felt at ease. This view aligns with the Queen’s general approach to state visits, where her priority was to be a hospitable host rather than strictly enforcing ceremonial rules.
During their visit, the Queen presented Trump with a first edition of Winston Churchill’s book on World War II and gifted Melania a custom silver box. Trump, reflecting on the visit, praised the Queen and her team, claiming they had a great time and that the Queen hadn’t enjoyed herself so much in years.
In response to the book’s claims, Trump’s communications director labeled them as “fake news” intended to generate sensationalism and boost book sales. The ongoing debate over Queen Elizabeth II’s true feelings about Donald Trump underscores the complex nature of royal engagements and the varied interpretations of such high-profile interactions.
