This visit from the King seems to show a greater sense of deference, in the upper echelons of American politics, than it is here in blighty; or is that a bit of BBC bias?

I wonder how deep in the American societal psyche it goes?

The last great empire was reduced to the Vatican, just a thought...

2 hours ago, dimreepr said:

The last great empire was reduced to the Vatican, just a thought...

Would depend on the definition, but if you are thinking of the Byzantine Empire, it was IIRC largely conquered by the Ottomans. The Vatican was more of a state within that context, when the power center moved away from Rome.

3 hours ago, dimreepr said:

I wonder how deep in the American societal psyche it goes?

Not particularly, but the deference you sense is more something that is projected from Trump rather than the US population. He loves the idea of hierarchy and that some folks are just born "better". I think among Europeans there is some hope that he would make some inroads into modifying Trump's behavior, though I think that there is scant chance for that.

7 hours ago, dimreepr said:

The last great empire was reduced to the Vatican, just a thought...

And, if you mean the Roman Empire, it should be noted that the Austro-Hungarian Empire, under Habsberg rule, referred to themselves, until the beginning of the last century, as the remains of the Holy Roman Empire, since all the Germanic tribes that invaded/sacked Rome essentially took on Roman laws and systems of government, and became 'Romans'.
It is not a coincidence that Germanic rulers are called 'Kaiser', the alteration of 'Caesar' ( emperor ).
Also 'Czar', and even 'Tsar' in Russia, indicating the Roman Empire had influence in the European continent until 1918.

By the same token, the American system of laws and government, essentially a modified British system, has been very successful and has been a model for other nations.
At least until it was taken over by 'big money', and corrupted beyond recognition by D Trump.
I fullt expect to see this modern day Nero ( or Caligula ) playing the fiddle while Washington DC burns.

11 hours ago, dimreepr said:

This visit from the King seems to show a greater sense of deference, in the upper echelons of American politics, than it is here in blighty; or is that a bit of BBC bias?

I wonder how deep in the American societal psyche it goes?

According to a leaked recording published by the Financial Times on Tuesday, the UK ambassador to the US said : “I think there is probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States, and that is probably Israel”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1l25qd43nro

The remark was made by the current  UK ambassador Sir Christian Turner in a meeting with UK sixth-form students visiting the US, shortly before King Charles III arrived at the White House during his state visit to the US.

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) said the "private, informal comments" were "not any reflection" of the government's position.

Another former British ambassador Lord Darroch said it was "hard to see anyone disagreeing with any of it"  as it has been "the conversation in corridors across Westminster".

9 hours ago, toucana said:

According to a leaked recording published by the Financial Times on Tuesday, the UK ambassador to the US said : “I think there is probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States, and that is probably Israel”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1l25qd43nro

The remark was made by the current  UK ambassador Sir Christian Turner in a meeting with UK sixth-form students visiting the US, shortly before King Charles III arrived at the White House during his state visit to the US.

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) said the "private, informal comments" were "not any reflection" of the government's position.

Another former British ambassador Lord Darroch said it was "hard to see anyone disagreeing with any of it"  as it has been "the conversation in corridors across Westminster".

Well yes, I don't see why this remark is the least bit shocking, as it is obvious. The ambassador said he disliked references to this outmoded phrase, which is due to Churchill and was said 70 odd years ago. A lot has clearly changed and it has become both absurd, and in my view demeaning, for the Brits to keep harping on about it in the hope of special favours. The King I thought put the relationship in the right context by reminding everyone of the shared history and the fact that so many of the legal and constitutional principles of the USA are due to that history, right back to the Bill of Rights and even Magna Carta. If there is a special link, that is what it is. One perspective that being a hereditary monarch provides is a view of the broad, long, sweep of history. I think it was useful for the King to remind US politicians of history, their place in it and their concomitant responsibilities. Easy to lose track of that in the heat of the day to day pressures.

One favour Trump has done the British is to strip away the cosy assumption that the USA will always protect us. It is clear that it won't, or rather may not, depending on the government of the day. We and the other Europeans need to be able to defend ourselves, possibly even from the USA. So let's junk this worn-out and subservient term and stand once more on our own feet.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by exchemist