It was without a trace of irony that the King's visit to the White House on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence - from Britain - was reported.
The King and all the many commentators watching the event with big eyes, skirted politely around the fact that a bloody revolutionary war had been staged by the 13 former Colonies on America's east coast, to kick out the British monarch and institute a democratic republic.
Nor did anyone recall the gory details: that 25,324 "revolutionaries" died - of which only 6,824 were killed in combat. Most of the rest - ~18, 500 - died while prisoners of war of the British, mostly in the prison ships in New York Harbour or in prisoner-of-war camps. But at least they won in the end...
Charles flattered the US Congress over their democratic US constitution and Bill of Rights. But he also took credit for it - claiming that it was at least partly an echo of the Magna Carta of 1215. Even the oft-quoted "no taxation without representation" can supposedly be traced back to the Magna Carta. Yet more proof that these great historic bills of rights were (and are) not worth the paper they're written on!
Indeed, the citizen's rights which the American constitution is supposed to stand for, have never been enjoyed by everyone. And how can they be, in the divided, class society that capitalism relies upon?
Trump put on a lavish show - and while he probably wasn't that interested in the content of the King's speech he did add a few choice words of his own. For instance, he referred to his and Netanyahu's war with Iran, saying. "we're never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon" - and "Charles agrees with me even more than / do". The rather pacific "Charles" was probably quite surprised to hear that he agreed with the president more than the president agreed with himself!
What was more significant was what was going on in the background. Especially given the fact that this 4-day visit by the royals was supposed to repair the so- called "Special Relationship". Mandelson's replacement as British ambassador, "Sir" Christian Turner was guoted as saying that no diplomat used the term "special relationship" anymore when speaking about London-Washington diplomacy anyway. He added that "the only country that has a special relationship with the United States is probably Israel".
Indeed, for the working class in the USA, here in Britain and in the Middle East, what stands out about this Trumpian royal event is how all this fantastical pomp and circumstance is taking place against a backdrop of ongoing US-funded Israeli bombing and slaughter in Lebanon, and daily Palestinian deaths in Gaza and the West Bank. And that's what makes it all the more sickening. So down with both "Kings" and down with the British and US imperialist policies they represent!