In a symbolic gesture blending history and diplomacy, King Charles III presented President Donald Trump with a bell from the HMS Trump, a World War II-era British submarine, during a White House state dinner.
While presenting the gift, King Charles said, “May it stand as a testimony to our nation’s shared history and shining future.” He then added with a laugh, “Should you ever need to get hold of us… just give us a ring.”
The HMS Trump bell, polished to a mirror sheen, was originally a part of a British submarine that was stationed in Australia for more than 20 years during the Royal Navy's constant presence there.
Historians note that bells from decommissioned ships often hold ceremonial value, traditionally used for marking time aboard vessels and later preserved as artefacts.
King Charles pointed out that Trump had previously said at the World Economic Forum that Europe was not properly appreciative of America's contribution to the defeat of Nazism during World War II.
