As the famous British wartime phrase suggests, “Keep calm and carry on,” it seems that Prince William is embracing this sentiment in his approach toward Donald Trump, even with the controversial president returning to the White House — despite their previous disagreements. With William set to inherit the throne in the coming decades, the Prince of Wales is working to demonstrate his readiness for the role of king and to prove his ability to foster international ties for the advancement of the United Kingdom.
That said, William’s surprisingly warmer connection with Trump is unexpected in many ways, especially given their previous public clashes. Back in 2012, Trump angered William with a tweet amid a scandal involving the publication of paparazzi photos showing William’s wife, Kate Middleton, sunbathing topless. At the time, Trump tweeted, “Kate Middleton is great — but she shouldn’t be sunbathing in the nude — only herself to blame.” His thoughtless remarks, followed by more comments about William’s wife, fueled the prince’s strong disapproval. Now, it appears William must maneuver through the complex waters of political diplomacy to uphold the so-called “special relationship” between the UK and the US.
“Donald Trump’s First Meeting with Prince William: An Unconventional Encounter”
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In December 2024, following his election triumph but prior to resuming office, Donald Trump traveled to France for the lavish gala celebrating the rededication of Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral. During this visit, Trump crossed paths with Prince William, and his body language seemingly betrayed his desire to assert dominance and significance among global leaders. In a December interview with The List, body language specialist Traci Brown dissected Trump’s assertive handshake, noting that it suggests, “Once more, [he] feels compelled to be the most dominant, prominent figure in the room.”
Interestingly, the meeting also revealed that Trump has been exaggerating his height — though this wasn’t exactly a shock to anyone. For years, Trump has insisted he stands at 6-feet, 3-inches tall. However, when positioned next to Prince William, who genuinely measures that height, it became instantly clear that Trump falls far short of matching William’s stature. This might explain why Trump resorted to his forceful handshaking tactics during their interaction.
That being said, Trump was effusive in his admiration for William when speaking to reporters the next day — or, more specifically, for William’s good looks. “He looked really, very handsome last night. Some people look better in person. He looked great,” Trump told the New York Post. He mentioned that he and William had a conversation lasting about half an hour, though Kensington Palace chose not to comment to the BBC on the details or the nature of their discussion.
