In 2025 are we finally at a point where the split between the rebel royals (loving the land which rejected royalty), and those supporting the traditional view of monarchy? It might have seemed not, looking at princes William and Harry. In light of Trump’s second state visit…here is my final take on the other special relationship.

William spent part of his gap year on the American continent, in remote Chile with Operation Raleigh. Cameras were invited in to see him scrubbing toilets and, as the princes matured, in  2009 Sir David Manning (previously Britain’s ambassador to Washington) was appointed their senior advisor. There was huge American interest in William’s wedding to Kate Middleton, and very soon after it, the couple visited Canada and also LA.

Then, and in 2014 when they again visited the States, they had a triumph. American headlines blared that ‘Royal Couple Rules LA’ and ‘NY City take over’. From meeting Beyonce to William’s addressing the World Bank – and flying down to Washington, amid huge discussions of the fact he took the shuttle –  they couldn’t put a foot wrong. Galas with Hollywood royalty, polo, visiting an Art Centre on Skid Row. They went to the hospital Princess Diana had helped to start, 25 years earlier, and commemorated the victims of 9/11 (whom, incidentally, the Queen had already honoured by ordering the flag flown at half mast over Buckingham Palace, and the Guards playing ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ on parade: who says the Royal Family can’t change when necessary?).

When William and Kate produced their third baby, the New York Times quipped that: ‘the Royal Family just keep on delivering’. ‘Britain’s international image may have taken a beating… but its unique asset was on full display’. (Though the American tabloids, unlike the British press, would a year later also report rumours of William’s infidelity.) No-one could possibly do better. Could they? 

Prince Harry, in his tearaway days, gave all too much indication that he, like some of his forebears, regarded America as the land of the free. It was in Las Vegas that he was photographed naked, enjoying a game of strip poker. But America would also be vital in his transformation from problem prince to most popular member of the Royal Family.  It was a 2013 trip to America’s Warrior Games, the tournament for wounded service personnel, that inspired him to set up the first Invictus Games in 2015. The second, in 2016, was held in Florida, with Michelle Obama taking a leading role; the third, in 2017, was held in Toronto… but it was no longer the Games the press were watching most avidly.

When Prince Harry married Meghan Markle, an American actress, in May 2018 it was to the accompaniment of a gospel band, a touchy-feely sermon from an African-American bishop, and a list of guests that included George Clooney and Oprah Winfrey. With the birth of their son Archie – and discussion of just how American would the new royal baby be? – it looked like a golden age for the special relationship between the USA and the monarchy.

We all know what happened next – Harry and Meghan’s disillusionment with the royals – ‘Megxit’ – the Netflix deal, ‘Made in Montecito’ – the Oprah Winfrey interview – and Spare, Harry’s profoundly controversial autobiography. It should have spelt disaster for the more regulated royals at home… But, as so often before, would ‘the Firm’ prove stronger than individual members of the Family? 

At the end of 2023, the Hollywood Reporter labelled the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as two of the year’s biggest losers. For Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, things have been going the other way. Now, the second presidency of Donald Trump has at once reiterated the importance of the royals as a diplomatic asset – and reflected its complexity. First offering Trump an unprecedented second state visit, then hosting Ukraine’s President Valensky, whom Trump had just snubbed, King Charles quickly became caught up in the ‘should we/shouldn’t over’ Britain’s placatory gestures towards a profoundly controversial US regime. 

Or, do we look at it differently?  – say that Charles’ royalty rises above such differences? If we do, then that may be the abiding point of the British monarchy…