Donald Trump captivated by Kate as he heaps praise on 'so radiant, so healthy, beautiful' princess

OPINION – – Donald Trump is like every single one of us with his candid reaction to seeing the Princess of Wales as the historic state visit to the UK got underway.

Within seconds of coming into contact with Catherine, as Marine One landed on the lawns of the Windsor estate, the US President took the princess' hand and told her she looked "so beautiful".

But it was not his first and only comment about the princess, later describing the 43-year-old as "so radiant and so healthy" in front of the 160-strong crowd at the evening banquet, marking the first time he'd seen her since her cancer diagnosis and recovery.

Truthfully, Trump said what so many of us were thinking when photos and vision started to come through from Wednesday's events.

By now, the Princess of Wales would be used to having her appearance dissected by onlookers such is the nature of her high-profile role as the second most senior royal woman in the House of Windsor.

But what she might not be so accustomed to is being fawned over by world leaders, mainly one of the most powerful men in the world.

However, in July, visiting French President Emmanuel Macron showed his affection for the princess by kissing her on the hand.

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While some suggested the warm and personal greeting was a breach of protocol, the French president did not break any rules.

In fact, King Charles greeted France's First Lady in the same way.Charles has often greeted other women in this way. There is a famous photo of the then-Prince of Wales warmly kissing Queen Mary (who was Crown Princess at the time) on the hand as he and Camilla visited Denmark in 2012.

Trump's gushing display towards Kate was to be expected, given the president's reputation as a ladies man.

His affection for the royal family is also well-documented.

Trump's love affair with the royal family was inherited by his Scottish mother, later describing her in his book The Art of the Deal as being "enthralled by the pomp and circumstance, the whole idea of royalty and glamour".

In Trump's second book, The Art of the Comeback, he wrote about the late Diana, Princess of Wales, describing her as someone who "lit up the room" and "a dream lady".

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Donald Trump's interactions with the royals

According to former BBC presenter Selina Scott, Trump tried to date Diana after her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996 and saw her as "the ultimate trophy wife".

His affection for Diana's daughter-in-law, however, hasn't always been rapturous.

In 2012, he blamed Kate for topless paparazzi shots of her sunbathing during a private holiday in France.

The then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sued the publication for publishing the invasive photos and were later awarded $150,000 in damages by a French court.

Writing at the time on Twitter, now X, Trump said: "Who wouldn't take Kate's picture and make lots of money if she does the nude sunbathing thing. Come on Kate!"

Trump isn't so enamoured with Kate's sister-in-law Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, who he has described as "terrible" and "nasty".

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Donald Trump's interactions with the royals

Speaking about Prince Harry's long-running visa scuffle with the US government last year, Trump said he wouldn't intervene on the issue: "He's got enough problems with his wife. She's terrible."

Trump's return to the UK for the state visit this week, following his first in 2019 during Queen Elizabeth II's reign, saw the Windsors put on the most royal of royal displays with all the pomp and pageantry they could muster – which would have been a huge boost to the president's ego.

Inside the banquet inside the dining hall at Windsor Castle, the King was seated next to the US President.

To Trump's right was the Princess of Wales.

Queen Camilla was seated across from the King and next to the First Lady, with Prince William on Melania's right.

The president was clearly thrilled to be put in such close proximity to the princess.

In his speech, Trump said described the night – and the state visit – as "truly one of the highest honours of my life".

"It's a singular privilege to be the first American president welcomed here and, if you think about it, it's a lot of presidents and this was the second state visit, and that's the first, and maybe that's going to be the last time," Trump said.

"But this is truly one of the highest honours of my life, such respect for you and such respect for your country.

"For many decades, His Majesty the King has epitomised the fortitude, nobility and the spirit of the British monarchy and the British people."

The president called King Charles a "very, very special man" while Prince William, he said, was "going to have unbelievable success in the future".

Turning to the princess, Trump described Kate as looking "so radiant and so healthy".

"Melania and I are delighted to visit again with Prince William and to see Her Royal Highness, Princess Catherine – so radiant and so healthy – it's so beautiful.

"It's really a great honour, thank you."

Hours before, the president had told the princess that she looked "so beautiful" before the entourage approached the King and Queen at Victoria House.

Indeed, Kate did look radiant, healthy and beautiful. Few would argue she was the epitome of health throughout the day.

Kate's evening look will go down in the history books as on of her most regal.

She chose couture by British designer Phillipa Lepley, featuring a full-length, hand-embroidered gold Chantilly lace evening coat over the silk crepe gown.

The coat features hand-embroidered roses with couched gold cording, accented with French knots and satin-stitched blooms.

It was a nod to the princess' commitment to supporting British craftsmanship and creativity. Last week she visited two mills, in Suffolk and Kent, celebrating local textile manufacturers.

All eyes – including, no doubt Trump's – will be on the princess on Thursday (early Friday morning in Australia) when she joins the First Lady for their first solo engagement.

The two women, who are both intensely private, will be at Frogmore Gardens in Windsor to meet Scouts working towards their "Go Wild" nature badge.

Their joint engagement will be a rare public appearance for both.

That Kate was able to take part in the first full day of the US state visit – arguably gruelling when the schedule is planned to the very minute – will come as welcome news to royal watchers and observers.

The princess is slowly returning to a busy diary of engagements after announcing she was in remission from cancer, in January.

In June, alarm bells were sounded when Kate abruptly pulled out of a scheduled appearance at Royal Ascot, days after the Wimbledon finals.

But the princess was doing exactly as she should by putting herself, and her health, above all else, after what has been a busy year of public events.

Kate was understood to have made the decision as she tried to find the right balance between work and rest.

In July, she described her diagnosis and chemotherapy as a "rollercoaster".

"You're not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to," Kate said, as she visited a hospital in Essex.

Kate said that during treatment "you put on a sort of brave face" but afterwards it can still feel "really difficult".

The princess' range of engagements in recent weeks are yet more positive signs of her improving health and recovery.

That Kate was seated next to the president at the banquet was also a show of her place in the royal family and how much she is respected.

She did her duty well by smiling at the president, engaging him in conversation and laughing at his jokes.

Her engagement with the First Lady, too, is another example of Kate playing a key role in the state visit and on the world stage.

The state visit is a celebration of the so-called special relationship between the UK and US, and an unprecedented opportunity for Trump to experience the royal family like no other president has before.

The King and Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, are indulging him knowing the benefits doing so will bring to both countries.

And Trump is loving every single moment.

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