President Donald J. Trump joked that his late mother had a crush on King Charles III during a White House ceremony on April 28, 2026 [3].
The comment occurred during the official welcome for King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The anecdote highlights the personal nature of the diplomatic encounter and the long-standing admiration the Trump family held for the British monarchy.
During the event in Washington, D.C., Trump referenced his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump. "My mother had a crush on Charles," Trump said [1]. He further noted that she used to describe the monarch as "cute" when she saw him on television as a child [2].
Trump used the moment to reflect on his family history. He noted that his parents were married for 63 years [1]. The interaction also touched upon the ages of the two leaders, as King Charles III is two years younger than Donald Trump [2].
The President shared the story as an anecdote during the state visit [5]. The exchange took place as part of the broader diplomatic proceedings welcoming the royal couple to the U.S. capital [3].
“"My mother had a crush on Charles."”
The use of personal, familial anecdotes during a state visit serves to soften the formal atmosphere of diplomatic relations. By linking his family's history to the British royal family, Trump attempts to establish a more intimate rapport with King Charles III, utilizing humor to bridge the gap between the U.S. presidency and the British monarchy.
