King Charles has presented a symbolic bell to Donald Trump during a recent state dinner. The sovereign also delivered a toast, highlighting the shared history of the two nations.
King Charles gift Donald Trump a golden bell
King Charles III and Queen Camilla joined President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a state dinner at the White House on Tuesday. During the event, the British sovereign presented Trump with an original bell from the World War II-era submarine HMS Trump.
King Charles said the bell is part of a vessel, which played “a critical role during the war in the Pacific.” The shiny brass bell featured the U.S. President’s name engraved on it, along with “1944”, the year in which the HMS Trump set sail from a UK shipyard.
“I am delighted to present to you as a personal gift, the original bell which hung on the conning tower of your valiant namesake,” King Charles said. “May it stand as a testament to our nation’s shared history and shining future,” the monarch added. He further quipped, “Should you ever need to get hold of us, just give us a ring!”
Despite sharing the same name, the ship’s name is unrelated to President Trump. Shortly before King Charles presented the bell at the dinner, Buckingham Palace shared a statement with the BBC. It said that the gift is a “symbol of friendship to mark this renewal” amid efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties between the US and the UK.
The statement also said that the gift is a nod to the late Queen Elizabeth’s historic gift of the bicentennial Liberty Bell during her 1976 visit to the U.S.
During his speech, King Charles also called Britain and the US’ history as one of “reconciliation, from adversaries to the closest of allies, not always perhaps following the straightest path.” The monarch added, “Our people have fought and fallen together in defense of the values we cherish across the ocean and from coast to coast.”
Originally reported by Namrata Ghosh on Mandatory.
