Lib Dems Call for King's US State Visit to Be Cancelled After Tensions Between Trump and Starmer Over Iran

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is calling on Sir Keir Starmer to cancel King Charles's planned state visit to the United States next month, as the diplomatic rift between London and Washington over the Iran war continues to simmer.

The King and Queen Camilla are expected to travel to the US in late April, ahead of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence in July. But Davey says the visit should not go ahead while Trump continues to publicly attack Britain and its prime minister.

"At a time when Trump has launched an illegal war that is devastating the Middle East and pushing up energy bills for British families, it's clear this visit should not go ahead," Davey said. "A state visit from our King would be seen as yet another huge diplomatic coup for President Trump, so it should not be given to someone who repeatedly insults and damages our country."

What is the tension between the US and UK about?

The row between Washington and London erupted after Starmer initially refused to allow US forces to use British bases for the opening wave of airstrikes on Iran, which Trump responded to with a string of public insults. He called Starmer "no Winston Churchill" and, after reports emerged of the UK preparing an aircraft carrier for deployment, posted that Britain was "finally giving thought" to sending two, before adding: "But we will remember. We don't need people that join Wars after we've already won!"

Starmer subsequently agreed to let the US launch "defensive" strikes against Iranian missile sites from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. This weekend, four American bombers landed at Fairford and operations began. RAF aircraft have also been deployed to intercept Iranian drones and missiles.

The two leaders spoke by phone on Sunday for roughly 20 minutes in their first conversation since the dispute escalated. A Downing Street readout said they discussed military cooperation through the use of RAF bases, and that Starmer passed on "heartfelt condolences" over the deaths of six US soldiers. The statement added that "they looked forward to speaking again."

Starmer has tried to cool tensions between the UK and US publicly, saying that US and British security officials are "working together every single day, as they always have," and insisted that his decisions have been guided by "our principles" and "Britain's best interests." Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the prime minister would not resort to "rhetoric or hyperbole," favouring instead "calm, steady decision-making."

Davey, speaking to LBC Radio, argued that while Trump clearly has a fondness for the royal family, it hasn't translated into better treatment of Britain, pointing to Trump's tariff policies as evidence. He warned Starmer against putting the King at the centre of what has become a "highly political situation."

Senior minister Steve Reed has pushed back against the Lib Dems, saying that the King did a "remarkable job" representing Britain abroad and that it was not his place, or Davey's, to weigh in on royal travel arrangements. Buckingham Palace has said nothing about the situation, as it does not comment on trips before they are officially confirmed.

Prince William is separately due to visit the US this summer during the football World Cup.