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.

I’ve been wondering about Ivanka. She was forever sticking her oar in the first time around.

I’m sure there was a photo of Melania smiling at Donald today. She must be loving the UK!

If i had to sit next to the handsy orange one, I'd be in a neck to toe outfit too!

The standards for evening dress do seem to differ between the US and the UK. Both the blue dress woman and Mrs Orange wore off the shoulder, a look also favoured by Meghan for 'events'. In the UK these seem too Housewives-of-Washington soiree and less high class dining event than something less revealing.

Charles is doing his job and pretending to like Trump, but I very much doubt that it's genuine. I think we know enough of Charles to know that they're unlikely to see eye to eye.

I just think the RF are very good at making small talk and at not allowing their masks to slip. That's why they're good at what they do.

Well let’s be honest, neither of us know for sure. Although it’s usually visible if something is forced - there’s always some small giveaway, but Charles seems to be very relaxed around Trump.

I watched (fast forwarded some of) the banquet speeches and it looked like Charles and Camilla were exchanging amused looks at one point. And trying to keep a straight face while not catching each other’s eye at another point.

Wow! They look just fabulous!

@Ivypoison they do that a often, you can tell they have great senses of humour and enjoy a really good belly laugh.

in Queen Victoria's time her children had to marry into european royal families

You've got to hand it to them, the Royal PR machine is absolutely second to none.

She looks absolutely beautiful, and her outfit is perfect for the occasion.

Great post.
Sums up my feelings exactly.

The royals are doing what the government of the day want them to do. It’s their job. Soft power at work.

@RedRiverShore5 as a pp said you don’t sit next to your partners at events. I went to a dinner once and I was asked why I wasn’t sitting next to my dh; I replied I live with him I’d rather sit next to someone I don’t speak to daily. More gossip to share on way home.

Yes, I did

Actually having looked at the photos of Kate at the dinner she looks much better than usual. I like the dress and she looks less strained and lined than usual.

In my experience of formal dinners and even informal dinners, it’s just not done to sit next to your partner. It’s good manners to be talking to others and not the person you came with.

Perhaps she wasn’t invited?

Kate's tiara looks massive on her head, it must be heavy!

They don’t have jobs. Don’t insult the actual workers in this country by pretending that putting on fancy dresses and sitting being served dinner is work. No matter the company, that is not exactly hard work is it?

Diplomacy is hard work. I’ve had to attend a lot of networking/ soft diplomacy dinners and events as a spouse and it’s much much harder than it looks. They are also on a world stage being scrutinised very closely.

Have you ever done it at a very high level? I have. I had 30 odd years of it and anyone who thinks it’s not a job doesn’t understand the role in the first place.

@DontReinMeIn if I had to host the likes of Trump and Mugabe Id bloody well count it as hard work. As well as having everything I wear, say and do scrutinised. It’s not down the mines, I agree, but I doubt it’s as easy as it looks.

In my experience you sit where you’ve been told to sit.

I didn't watch any of it live but have just caught up. What the actual four and a half with Melania and her hats. She always wears one like this, I find it quite insulting, I doubt anyone could see anything of her face apart from her mouth moving. OK, we get you don't want your horrible husband to kiss you, but suck it up, you get paid enough for pretending to have a marriage with him. She would obviously rather be back home in New York.
And her evening yellow dress split up to her thigh was a monstrosity.
Trumper will have loved all of this, let's see if our arse licking pays off because he can change his mind on a whim on anything.

just seen Trump's speech, so very long

His speech was disgusting and full of lies. He wants to defend the values of 'the english speaking world'
Yuk

I’m sorry but they do not work. They make appearances every so often and then they go back to living in the lap of luxury. I have no sympathy for them and I am disgusted by the entire farce.