Trump State Visit

[MrsLeonFarrell]

A space for thoughts.

My first is that being at Windsor might make it easier to host a foreign leader. Which then begs the question as to whether in the modern age we really need Buckingham Palace. None of the royals like living there and I bet you'd make a fortune hiring it out for events and tourists.

Whilst i find Catherine's coat dresses a little boring it makes sense to have a sort of uniform.

It would make a good Travelodge. Very central, perfect base for a hen do.

Very true. It doesn't make sense to force the monarch to live in it and now it's been restored we should maximise use.

The procession is so impressive. Love the ‘street liners’ and the bands.

Trump is going to be lapping this up. I'm no monarchist, but I will acknowledge that the RF do really know how to do pageantry, and they will no doubt do a grand job of hosting.

I just really hope that this visit produces the results that the government is hoping for in order to justify the national shame and humiliation of having to roll out the red carpet for this despicable, narcissistic man. I do totally understand why they've done it, but it's so unedifying to watch them all having to fawn over him like this. And my concern is that, even if the fuss and the flattery wins him over to whatever they're eager to get him to agree with while he is here, he is so fickle that he could easily change his mind again tomorrow. And we'll then be left wondering what was the point.

It will be interesting to see how things unfold and how history judges this embarrassing spectacle. Will it be seen as Britain having pulled out all the stops to keep an unstable and capricious president in line, or will it be seen as the futile and shameful appeasement of a tyrant? Only time will tell.

It will be interesting to see how things unfold and how history judges this embarrassing spectacle.
@BeHappySloth

How do you think history judges the state visits of Mugabe and Nicolae Ceausescu?
Or should only leaders who you approve of be asked on state visits?

Melania would have looked SO much better if she had tilted the brim of her hat up about 2mm. Not sure how she managed to see anything from under it while she was chatting with Camilla and Catherine!

I would hate to be royal and have to shake hands with and pretend to like people like Trump. Would love to know what William and Charles truly think of him,

What's your point exactly?

I've made it clear that I understand why the visit was offered and that I want it to succeed, so it's pretty clear that I'm not suggesting that state visits shouldn't ever be extended to leaders of whom I disapprove. But we have chosen to give this man, who is despised by much of the British public as well as the political establishment, an unprecedented second state visit and we are explicitly going OTT with the level of respect that we are paying him. I'm entitled to wonder whether this strategy will pay off and to consider how we might reflect on this in the years to come.

As for Mugabe and Ceausescu, yes, pretty embarrassing to look back on.

I do totally understand why they've done it, but it's so unedifying to watch them all having to fawn over him like this.

Are they ‘fawning’ over Trump more than they did over XiJinping?

Feel sad for RF on a human level. They look so very unwell.

Objectively, yes, I think they are. They have deliberately and explicitly gone above and beyond for Trump.

Objectively, yes, I think they are. They have deliberately and explicitly gone above and beyond for Trump.

Okay, well you may be right but what have they done for him that they haven’t done for other foreign leaders?

Well, a second state visit for a start.

They really do don't they.

To me they all look like even they know it's run its course.
I get strong whiffs that they wish it would all be abolished and they could buy a little place in Wiltshire and crash on the sofa with their dog.

Well, who can blame them on a day like this?!

Well, a second state visit for a start.

That’s true but Xi Xinping has also had two state visits and he presides over a very authoritarian country with no human rights and dissenters are treated very harshly

Didn’t the late queen reportedly hide from Ceausesc? I wouldn’t be royal for all their wealth.

NewAgeNewMe · Today 14:42
Didn’t the late queen reportedly hide from Ceausesc? I wouldn’t be royal for all their wealth.

I agree, they’ve had to host some shockers, but they must have been slightly interested to meet these world leaders both good and bad.

It's sort of embarassing the way they keep pretending everything is alright.

😅 pmsl

I’m loving the images projected onto Windsor Castle as well as the large picture laid out in one of the Parks.

As for anything else - no one does these kind of visits and occasions the way Britain does.

God Save The King.

Has he? When was the second one?

Love a procession, but only from a distance

That's their job!

I think this sort of thing is the only way to deal with Trump. As he arrived Microsoft announced a substantial investment here.

The thing about being a working royal is that you meet who the government tells you to meet and you make them feel special and welcomed. That's the job. I'd hate it, even if Idid get to wear a tiara!

What else are they to do?

They do what the government of the day wants them to do.