As British-U.S. trade tension heats up, it’s time the Royal Family – and Prince William – step up

Prince William visits Centrepoint, a charity which supports homeless youth, in west London, Britain on Jan. 21, 2025. (Hannah McKay/Pool photo via AP)

The relationship between U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.K. stands at a turning point with the much-lauded ‘special relationship’ between the two countries at stake.

With Trump threatening to impose blanket 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports – including from the U.K. – observers including Sky News’ political correspondent are saying this could be the “first big test” in the relationship between British PM Keith Starmer and the American president.

Britain’s already struggling steel industry is extremely worried, with £400 million of its revenue on the line, potentially, if the tariffs go through.

With Trump essentially ignoring pleas from Starmer to spare the U.K. from such punishing tariffs, it’s time Britain pulls its ‘trump card’ and calls upon the Royal Family for a much-needed hand in some careful but urgent diplomacy.

The Royal Family could be just the sweetener that could save the U.K. from facing heavy tariffs from a new Trump America-first-and-focused presidency. This is one of the most important functions of the Royal Family, wielding soft power and smoothing over diplomatic relations with the pomp and pageantry that they are famous for.

If there was ever a time to put them to work – this is it. While Prince Harry faces possible visa issues highlighted by right-wing think tank the Heritage Foundation, Prince William has emerged as an unexpected diplomatic asset when it comes to dealing with the president.

In fact, Prince William could be the secret weapon when it comes to the U.K.-U.S. relationship, and Trump’s past admiration for him could prove valuable. British officials now think about using this royal connection as Starmer plans his Washington visit which could take place at the end of the month. Kensington Palace insiders have said the idea is being mulled over, with no firm decision made either way, as not date is in place as of yet.

This could involve Prince William being part of the delegation on the Trump charm offensive. The U.K.‘s service-based economy and balanced trade position have helped dodge Trump’s tariffs -- so far. The Royal Family’s diplomatic influence might be the key to protecting this delicate economic balance.

The Royal Family’s influence runs deep in American politics. Queen Elizabeth II, during her 70-year reign, built a special bond with American presidents and met 13 out of 14 who served during her time. Her diplomatic touch worked well with Trump, whose Scottish mother’s love for the Queen shaped his deep respect for the monarchy.

Queen Elizabeth made several diplomatic achievements, including welcoming Trump to Buckingham Palace in 2019 during his first term, helping build friendly relations that helped U.K.-U.S. trade talks and helping to keep transatlantic relations stable during political storms.

King Charles III has created his own way to build White House connections. The monarch sent Trump a personal message of congratulations after his second inauguration. Charles uses his long-standing connections in his diplomatic approach, including his early visits to Mar-a-Lago, in 1988. His relationships with Gulf leaders match Trump’s geopolitical interests.

Prince William, meanwhile, has stepped up as a vital diplomatic figure in this changing scene. His Paris meeting with Trump in December showed the monarchy’s growing importance in trade diplomacy. The prince’s role as a ‘global statesman’ helps Britain’s Labour government direct potentially tricky relations with Trump’s administration. The government strategically utilizes royal soft power to advance British interests.

The Notre-Dame Cathedral’s reopening ceremony brought Trump and Prince William together as they joined others to celebrate the cathedral’s five-year restoration project. William’s Paris visit happened at the request of His Majesty’s Government, which highlighted this diplomatic meeting’s strategic value.

Trump warmly praised the Prince of Wales and called him “a good-looking guy” who looked “really, very handsome.” Their 40-minute conversation covered much ground. The two leaders also discussed sensitive family matters, including the Royal Family’s health challenges. Trump’s warm response to William, gesturing and saying, “Good man, this one,” pointed to promising diplomatic relations between Britain and the Republican administration.

Their meeting went beyond mere pleasantries as both men worked to deepen the U.K.-US special relationship during their talks. William felt deeply grateful when Trump shared his heartfelt memories of Queen Elizabeth II. However, despite the cordial nature of this meeting, it doesn’t seem to have stopped Trump’s wish to impose tariffs that could be hugely damaging to the U.K.

Gareth Stace, the director of U.K. Steel, which represents the sector, said the U.S. is the largest export market after the EU. And he said the tariffs would be a “devastating blow.”.

“It is deeply disappointing if President Trump sees the need to target UK steel, given our relatively small production volumes compared to major steel nations,” he added.

Royal influence goes beyond formal meetings and the monarchy serves as Britain’s ‘major national asset’ in international relations. This role grows more important as the U.K. government tries to keep good trade relations despite policy differences. But royal diplomatic work faces some hurdles. Charles stays politically neutral, but his passion for environmental issues might clash with Trump’s views. The monarchy must balance its diplomatic role carefully, especially now that Britain thinks over closer ties with the European Union -- a move Trump does not support.

Prince William has proved he has the ability to carry on the famous British royal diplomacy, giving the country a unique edge in handling complex U.S. trade relations. With the word “tariff” being thrown around repeatedly in the first 100 days of Trump’s second presidency, this is more important than ever.

Prince William’s influence continues to grow, and British officials value this diplomatic asset that protects £1.2 trillion in cross-border investments.

Numbers tell the story clearly. A future agreement could boost U.S.-U.K. trade volume by 15.3% and benefit 30,000 British businesses.

The monarchy’s role as Britain’s diplomatic life-blood remains vital to protect and expand these important economic ties between two long-standing allies.