King Charles had some unexpected help behind the scenes as he prepared to win over Washington during his US state visit.
The monarch, known for his lifelong love of William Shakespeare, reportedly turned to acclaimed British actor Sir Mark Rylance for advice while working on the speeches he would later deliver in the United States.
Rylance, who starred in Wolf Hall and previously served as artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe, was said to be one of several cultural figures and outside advisers consulted by Charles and his team ahead of the high-profile visit.
According to The Telegraph, officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office were also involved, along with staff at the British Embassy in Washington.
The careful preparation appeared to pay off.
During the trip, Charles delivered two major speeches, including remarks at a White House state dinner and an address to a joint session of Congress.
At the White House, the King presented Donald Trump with a Royal Navy bell before adding some distinctly British humour to the occasion.
He drew one of the biggest laughs of the night when he joked about the long relationship between Britain and the United States, suggesting Charles Dickens might have described it as “A Tale of Two Georges.”
The King’s delivery also caught the attention of the American media.
The New York Times praised his performance, noting that Charles appeared to work the room almost like a stand-up comedian as he confidently landed his jokes.
Trump also seemed impressed by what he heard.
He described the King’s speech as “great” and then made a rather unexpected confession, admitting that he was “very jealous.”
Behind the polished performance, however, was a carefully crafted effort involving diplomats, advisers and one of Britain’s best-known Shakespearean actors — giving Charles an extra weapon as he set out to charm his American audience.
