Transcript
Jonathan Friedland (0:00)
This is the Guardian. They do go a bit weak kneed at the sight of a monarch. It's that notion of history. Remember Americans, history is quite short.
King Charles (0:18)
The Founding Fathers were bold and imaginative rebels with a cause. 250 years ago, or as we say in the United Kingdom, just the other day, they declared independence.
Jonathan Friedland (0:32)
It was quality stuff, coded, but not that coded by royal standards. It was actually pretty direct, this visit and the rave reviews he's getting, the ovations, the laughter at the White House will represent a big moment for him in his own life story.
Helen Pitt (0:47)
A historic day for King Charles, sent to Washington to salvage the ever shakier special relationship. There were jokes, there were digs. The supposedly apolitical monarch even appealed to Trump on NATO in Ukraine. But was the President listening to what the King was really saying? From the Guardians today In Focus, this is the latest. With me, Helen Pitt. Joining me today is Guardian columnist Jonathan Friedland, who's also the host of our Politics Weekly America podcast. Lovely to see you, Jonathan.
Jonathan Friedland (1:16)
Good to be with you.
Helen Pitt (1:18)
So Tuesday was a pretty historic day for King Charles. He was the first British monarch to address the US Congress since his mum 35 years ago, when the first George Bush was in the White House. We're going to get to that speech a bit later, but let's start with his, I'd say more of a barnstormer of a speech, the one that he gave at a very lavish dinner at the White House. I genuinely laughed, I think five times while I was watching it. It was, it was sort of Notting Hill meets the Darkest Hour. A lot of subtext and also a lot of jokes. What did you make of it?
Jonathan Friedland (1:50)
Yeah, it was a chance for King Charles stand up. I mean, it was his Washington debut of his comedy routine and it went down extremely well. I mean, they were very well judged jokes.
King Charles (2:00)
You recently commented, Mr. Mr. President, that if it were not for the United States, European countries would be speaking German. Dare I say that if it wasn't for us, you'd be speaking French.
Jonathan Friedland (2:13)
You know, the speechwriters at the palace, I've thought this for a long while, are really the best in the uk, I think better than any politician has. And that includes the gag writing. It was quality stuff and it played on the idea that he is this historical figure and his audience will have thought of, you know, his great, great, I think he said five great grandfather George III and the, the character from Hamilton. He was sort of playing that, in a way, you know, with these references, as if the 18th century had only just happened and so playing into leaning into the fact he is 77 and that he represents the old world and that the Americans who broke from Britain, they have a kind of nostalgia, they can, you can tickle their tummy with jokes about the, the royal past. Yeah.
