During an extravagant banquet meal, King Charles III made a rare and humorous revelation about a long-standing political matchmaking endeavor. He joked that he almost joined the Nixon family in an effort to strengthen the “special bond” between the United States and the United Kingdom.
What Did King Charles Say?
During his speech hosting U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, the King reflected on his long history with the United States. His tone turned lighthearted as he recalled his first visit in 1970.
“Throughout my life, from my very first visit to the United States in 1970 and over 20 visits since that time, I have cherished the close ties between the British and American people,” King Charles stated. He then delivered the punchline that drew laughter from the room: “Had the media succeeded in the 1970s in their own attempt at deepening the special relationship, I myself might have been married off within the Nixon family!”
The remark reportedly made President Trump laugh, who turned to share the moment with Kate Middleton.
What Actually Happened in the 1970s?
The joke was a direct reference to a well-documented chapter of diplomatic history. In 1970, a young bachelor Prince Charles and his sister, Princess Anne, were invited on an official state visit to the White House by President Richard Nixon.
Nixon’s Motive: Reports and historical accounts reveal that President Nixon saw the visit as a major public relations opportunity. He reportedly harbored a specific hope: that Charles would “hit it off” with his eldest daughter, Tricia.
The “Real Gem”: Nixon had privately praised Charles as the royal family’s “real gem,” believing the prince’s visit “could do an enormous amount of good for US-British relations”—a benefit that would be exponentially greater with a royal wedding.
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Was There Any Truth to the Rumor?
While a full-blown relationship never materialized, the setup was real. Historical reports confirm that Charles was indeed paired with Tricia Nixon during the visit.
- He escorted her to the official state dinner.
- The two were sent on an outing to a baseball game together.
However, nothing romantic developed from the arranged meetings. The potential alliance remained a fascinating “what if” in royal and political history.
How Often Does Charles reference This?
This is not the first time King Charles has recalled Nixon’s matchmaking efforts. Biographer Sally Bedell Smith revealed that during a visit to George W. Bush’s White House, then-Prince Charles joked that “the Bushes had better not try to fix up their twin daughters with his sons William and Harry the way Nixon had worked to set him up with Tricia.”
How Did the Story End?
Each of the two principals found their own mate outside of the diplomatic arrangement as their paths diverged.
- Tricia Nixon married her longtime partner, Edward F. Cox, in a celebrated ceremony in the White House Rose Garden in 1971.
- Prince Charles later married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. After their divorce, he reconnected with and married his first love, Camilla Parker Bowles, now Queen Camilla.
The story was a delightful reminder of the lengthy and occasionally intimate connection between the American political elite and the British monarchy.
