Starmer’s plan to use the King to charm Trump – and bypass Nigel Farage
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Exclusive: As the furore erupts over Lord Peter Mandelson heading to Washington DC as UK ambassador, a plan is believed to be in place for senior royals to be ‘front and centre’ in a charm offensive with Donald Trump. The King and Prince of Wales are to be “front and centre” of a charm offensive on Donald Trump as Keir Starmer attempts to bypass Nigel Farage and repair the damaged relationship with the president-elect and his team.
![[JD Vance met up with Kemi Badenoch]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/08/13/JD-Kemi.jpg)
A diplomat has told The Independent that president-elect Mr Trump’s love for the royal family is seen as “the way to his heart” as the fallout from the US election continues to overshadow the UK/US special relationship. Speaking to The Independent, Sir Keir said that the UK/US connection is “a special relationship forged in extremely difficult circumstances” because of the war in Ukraine and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
![[Nigel Farage is close to Mr Trump]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/11/07/19/GettyImages-594880140.jpg)
But with question marks over how to resolve difficulties between a Trump White House and Labour UK government, it is understood that part of the calculation in sending Prince William alone to the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris earlier this month was to enable him to start building a relationship with Mr Trump.
![[Foreign secretary David Lammy and prime minister Sir Keir Starmer]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/04/09/99003014442cdc8aefaa7b64329e10ddY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzMzMzg4OTEx-2.78375952.jpg)
It is thought putting in a “proper operator” as ambassador with Lord Peter Mandelson heading to Washington, is only part of a complex plan to try to get the UK/US relationship back on track. While one source close to foreign secretary David Lammy insists that “normal government business continues”, there have been question marks over rows with Mr Trump’s ally Elon Musk, who has publicly criticised Sir Keir and voiced anger over Labour helping Kamala Harris in the US election.
