Churchill is theme of royal gifts
THE Queen yesterday presented Donald Trump with a first edition of Winston Churchill’s account of the Second World War on the first day of his state visit to Britain.
Meanwhile later today, Theresa May will give the president a framed copy of the draft of the Atlantic Charter with Churchill’s comments visible in red pencil. His wife Melania will receive a tea set when they go to Downing Street for lunch.
The Churchill-themed gifts are a timely reminder of Britain’s special relationship with the US in the run-up to the 75th anniversary of D-day.
The Queen also gave Mr Trump a three-piece pen set while Mrs Trump was presented with a specially commissioned silver box.
But by last night it still wasn’t clear what the president and his wife had brought with them for their royal hosts. Buckingham Palace explained it was strictly following protocol, and that it was for the White House to disclose.
The White House, however, said it would leave it to the royal household to declare what presents had been given to the Queen in return.
Not that Mr Trump may have had much input. Yesterday, he was left scratching his head when asked if he recognised a statue of a horse on display at Buckingham Palace, which he had given to the Queen last July.
Tim Knox, director of the Royal Collection, who showed the Trumps exhibits at the palace, said Mr Trump gave the monarch the pewter horse when he had tea with her at Windsor Castle – but that he had no recollection of it.
Mr Knox said: “We just asked him whether he recognised it and he said ‘no’ but the First Lady did recognise it, which is rather nice.”
This time around, the Queen’s official gifts to Mr Trump included a first edition of The Second World War by Churchill from 1959. It is understood to be an abridged version of Churchill’s historic account of the war, that was first published between 1948 and 1954.
The crimson covered book features gold tooled decoration on the cover, spine and inner cover, an EIIR cipher in gold on the front, silk endpapers and hand-sewn headbands in colours of the US flag with all pages edged in gilt.
The monarch also gave Mr Trump a three-piece Parker Duofold pen set – a fountain pen, rollerball pen and ballpoint pen, again with EIIR cipher.
The silver box given to Mrs Trump came with a handcrafted enamel lid with a royal blue decoration featuring roses, thistles and shamrocks to represent the Palace music room ceiling.
Mrs May’s gift to Mr Trump will be a framed typescript draft of the 1941 Atlantic Charter, agreed by Franklin D Roosevelt and Churchill, setting out their vision for the post-war world.