Prime Minister Keir Starmer is poised to ‘deploy’ King Charles to charm President Trump and strengthen links with the US – in an attempt to avoid an ‘economic disaster’ for the UK, a new report has claimed

The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is poised to make the most use of King Charles and the Royal Family as possible to ensure links with the US are as strong as possible after Donald Trump takes office on 20 January and avoid a potential “economic disaster”, a report has claimed.

During his first term as US president, Trump was hosted by the late Queen Elizabeth on a state visit, and it looks likely that he will once again be invited back to the UK, with the royals ‘deployed’ on a charm offensive in an attempt to strengthen ties and avoid any potential tariffs being put in place on the UK.

The i newspaper reports that a Labour MP said any tariffs on Britain would be a “real economic disaster” and one that could cost Labour any chance at being re-elected in the next election, outcomes they are keen to avoid. And they are ready to utilise the Royal Family, officially or unofficially to keep Trump onside.

One MP was quoted as saying, “Obviously we do [need to deploy the Royals]. The poor old Royal Family is going to be spending a lot of time with Trump in the future I suppose,” and another noted that Trump’s love of the monarchy and UK was something that the government had to be prepared to use.

If Trump was invited on another state visit it would be the first time that a US president has ever been officially received twice – but the government and Palace are reported to be considering other less formal options to make use of King Charles or Prince William too.

“The Palace is also understood to be open to meetings between Trump and the King outside a formal state visit, for example, if he wanted to visit one of his golf courses in Scotland, a meeting could be arranged,” the report claimed.

William recently met with Trump in Paris at the ceremonial re-opening of Notre Dame, after a fire devastated the cathedral five years ago. Whilst Kensington Palace did not comment on the meeting, afterward Trump was filled with praise for the future King, saying that the pair had a “great, great talk”.

The meeting was said to be arranged at short notice, and Trump also said that William looks “better in person” and is “really handsome” after their half an hour chat. “He looked really, very handsome last night. Some people look better in person. He looked great. He looked really nice, and I told him that,” Trump was reported as saying.

The President-Elect also said that the pair discussed the health challenges Princess Kate and King Charles have faced in the last year and said that in his view William is “doing a fantastic job”.

After the death of Queen Elizabeth, Trump said she was a “great woman” and that the former monarch “never made mistakes,” during her long reign. After claims were made in a biography that the late Queen found Trump to be “very rude” he repeatedly pushed back, saying “I had a great relationship with the Queen. She liked me and I liked her,” to the Daily Mail, and also claiming that he was her “favourite president”.