Why King Charles gave Donald Trump personalised bell during US state visit
King Charles III and Queen Camilla have officially exchanged gifts with Donald and Melania Trump, amid the royals' ongoing US state visit.
The British monarch, 77, and his wife, 78, arrived in Washington DC on Monday (27 April) for their four-day state visit to spend time with the US President and First Lady.
We're now on the final day of the visit, which is intended to mark America's 250th birthday, and aims to serve as a symbolic celebration of the United Kingdom's relationship with the US.
Among their itinerary so far, Charles and Camilla have enjoyed an afternoon tea at the British Embassy in the US and sat down for a lavish state banquet, after the King made history by becoming the second ever monarch to issue a speech to the US Congress, after his late mother Queen Elizabeth II.
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And now, the two countries have paid tribute to their 'special relationship' by exchanging gifts, after the US President officially welcomed the royal couple with an unprecedented military ceremony on the lawns of the White House earlier this week.
Charles gifted the president with a framed facsimile, or replica, of the 1879 design plans for the Resolute Desk.
The president’s desk, which currently sits in the Oval Office of the White House, was created from the timbers of the British exploration ship HMS Resolute.
To the King, Trump handed over a custom replica of a letter written from former US President John Adams to fellow founding father John Jay in 1785.
In the letter, Adams describes King George III receiving him as the first US ambassador to Great Britain at St James Palace in London.
And Queen Camilla had a present for Melania too - a brooch by British designer Fiona Rae, while the First Lady gave Charles six Tiffany’s English King sterling silver teaspoons and some White House honey.
Interestingly, during the state dinner, the King also saved one special gift until last.
He gave the US President a bell from the HMS Trump, a WWII submarine that served in the Pacific, as per Metro.
Charles gushed: "I’m delighted to present to you the original bell which hung on the conning tower of your valiant namesake. May it stand as a testimony to our nation’s shared history and shining future."
The monarch added, "Should you ever need to get hold of us, just give us a ring," which earned a laugh from guests.
The large golden bell reads 'TRUMP' along with the date 1944 inscribed onto it.
As mentioned, the publication reports that the HMS Trump was a Royal Navy submarine in World War II, and it was actually built in Barrow-in-Furness.
But actually, it wasn't really named after anyone.
In the 1940s, a lot of the Royal Navy vessels were given short ‘T’ names, such as HMS Truncheon.
As per Military.com, HMS Trump was the only navy vessel ever to carry the name, which has no connection to the president.
The more you know!
Topics: King Charles III, Donald Trump, Queen Camilla, Melania Trump, Royal Family, US News
Madison Burgess