When Donald Trump and the British Royal Family cross paths, the internet usually catches fire. Most people think they know exactly what went down between the 45th (and 47th) President and the Princess of Wales, but the reality is a messy mix of early-2010s tweets, high-stakes diplomacy, and some very public compliments that made more than a few people cringe.
Honestly, if you’re looking for a single conversation, you won't find it. It's more of a decade-long saga.
The 2012 Twitter Storm: What Did Trump Say to Princess Kate?
Back in 2012, long before the White House was even a serious conversation, Donald Trump was essentially the world's most famous armchair commentator. When those infamous topless photos of Kate Middleton surfaced—taken with a long-range lens while she was on a private holiday in France—the world was divided. Most people were horrified by the invasion of privacy.
Trump took a different route.
He hopped on Twitter (now X) and basically said she had it coming. "Kate Middleton is great – but she shouldn’t be sunbathing in the nude – only herself to blame," he wrote. He followed it up by saying, "Who wouldn't take Kate's picture and make lots of money if she does the nude sunbathing thing. Come on Kate!"
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It was classic Trump. Blunt. Controversial. Totally unfiltered.
At the time, the Palace was reportedly fuming. Sources close to the family suggested that Prince William and King Charles (then Prince of Wales) were "burning up the phone lines" with anger. You’ve gotta remember, for a family that still deals with the trauma of how the paparazzi treated Princess Diana, these comments felt less like a "hot take" and more like a personal attack.
The 2024 Shift: From Criticism to Concern
Fast forward to late 2024 and early 2025. The tone changed completely.
When the news broke about Princess Catherine’s cancer diagnosis and her subsequent treatment, Trump’s rhetoric shifted from victim-blaming to something much softer. During a meeting with Prince William in Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in December 2024, Trump reportedly spent quite a bit of time asking about Kate's health.
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He told the New York Post afterward that he asked William about his wife and that the Prince said she was "doing well." Trump called the whole situation "sad" but praised the family's resilience. It was a rare moment of standard, quiet diplomacy from a man who usually prefers the spotlight at full blast.
The September 2025 State Visit: "So Beautiful"
The most recent—and perhaps most awkward—interaction happened during the 2025 State Visit to the UK. This is where the phrase what did trump say to princess kate really started trending again.
As the Trumps stepped off Marine One at Windsor Castle, the President greeted the Princess of Wales with a handshake and a very direct compliment. He told her she was "beautiful, so beautiful." Later that night, at a formal state banquet with 160 guests, he went even further during his official speech.
Standing next to King Charles, Trump described Catherine as "radiant," "healthy," and "so beautiful."
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Was it a breach of protocol? Technically, no. There’s no law saying you can't tell a Princess she looks nice. But in the world of royal etiquette, where everything is supposed to be understated and formal, it felt "cringey" to many observers. To others, it was just Trump being Trump—using his usual brand of "ice-breaking" charm, even if it feels a bit like a bull in a china shop.
The Reality of Their Relationship
If you’re trying to figure out if they’re "friends," the answer is: it’s complicated.
- The Public Image: Kate is the ultimate professional. She smiles, she shakes hands, and she follows the "never complain, never explain" mantra. She handled the 2025 compliments with total grace, even if she was internally rolling her eyes.
- The Private Friction: It’s highly unlikely the royals have forgotten the 2012 tweets. The British monarchy has a very long memory.
- The Diplomatic Necessity: At the end of the day, the US-UK "Special Relationship" matters more than a decade-old tweet. Both sides know they have to play nice for the cameras.
What This Means for You
Staying informed about these interactions isn't just about celebrity gossip; it’s about watching how modern celebrity culture interacts with a 1,000-year-old institution.
If you want to keep track of this evolving story, here is what you should actually do:
- Check the Source: Whenever a "shocking" quote surfaces, verify if it's from an official speech or an old social media post. Trump’s 2012 comments are often recirculated as if they were said yesterday.
- Watch the Body Language: In royal circles, what isn't said is often more important than what is. Look at the distance kept during photos and the brevity of the exchanges.
- Follow Official Palace Briefings: For the real "state of the union" regarding the Princess's health or official stances, ignore the tabloids and look for statements from Kensington Palace.
The saga of what Trump said to Princess Kate is a perfect example of how a single tweet can haunt a public figure for decades, even when they try to pivot to being "radiant" and "supportive" years later.