A new biography of Queen Elizabeth II offers a rare glimpse into her personal opinions about former US President Donald Trump, describing him as “very rude” during their encounters and raising questions about his relationship with his wife, Melania.
The revelations come from Craig Brown’s book, A Voyage Around The Queen, currently being serialized in the Daily Mail. According to the biography, the Queen expressed her disapproval of Trump following his visit to Windsor Castle in 2018.
Brown writes that shortly after the visit, the late Queen confided in a lunch guest, expressing her dislike for how Trump often looked over her shoulder during their interactions, seemingly searching for “others more interesting.” The Queen, who passed away in 2022, also speculated about Trump’s marriage to Melania, suggesting that they must have “some sort of arrangement” for her to remain with him.
Trump met Queen Elizabeth II twice during his presidency—first in July 2018 and again in June 2019. The initial meeting was marred by controversy, as it was not classified as a state visit due to widespread public opposition, which included protests and a giant balloon depicting Trump as a baby. During that visit, Trump reportedly kept the then-92-year-old monarch waiting for ten minutes in warm weather and broke royal protocol by walking ahead of her during a guard inspection.
Despite these incidents, Trump has claimed that he had a positive relationship with the Queen. In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated, “We were laughing and having fun. And her people said she hasn’t had so much fun in 25 years.” He even suggested that he was her favorite guest, adding, “There are those that say they have never seen the Queen have a better time, a more animated time.”
Following the Queen’s death in September 2022, Trump issued a statement mourning her loss and praising her as a “grand and beautiful lady.” He expressed that he and Melania were “deeply saddened” by her passing, and they would “never forget” her “generous friendship” and “wonderful sense of humor.”
Queen Elizabeth II was known for her discretion and rarely shared her personal opinions about world leaders, making these insights particularly notable. Fiona Hill, a former White House advisor, observed that Trump viewed his meetings with the Queen as a significant achievement, believing it marked a pinnacle in his life. Trump has frequently spoken of his admiration for the Queen, emphasizing her sense of duty and the enduring relationship between the US and the UK.