Trump rejected Prince Harry’s appeal on Ukraine ahead of the royal family’s visit to the US

U.S. President Donald Trump refused to back Prince Harry’s public appeal in support of Ukraine, saying that the Duke of Sussex “does not speak for Britain.” The remark was made in the Oval Office just days before King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s state visit to Washington.

When asked by reporters about Harry’s speech at the Kyiv Security Forum, Trump first responded with irony, asking about the prince and his wife Meghan Markle.

“How is he doing? How is his wife? Give her my very best wishes,” the president said.

Trump then added:

“One thing I know for sure: Prince Harry does not speak for Britain. I think I represent Britain’s interests far better than Prince Harry does.”

Harry’s appeal in Kyiv

Earlier on Thursday, Prince Harry unexpectedly arrived in Kyiv by overnight train from Poland. It was his third visit to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.

Speaking at the Kyiv Security Forum, the 41-year-old Duke of Sussex urged the United States to fulfill its commitments to Ukraine made after Kyiv gave up the Soviet nuclear arsenal.

“The United States holds a special place in this story — not only because of its power, but also because America was among the countries that guaranteed respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders,” Harry said.

He stressed that now is the moment for Washington to reaffirm its commitment to international obligations — “not out of charity, but because of its role in global security and strategic stability.”

Harry did not mention Trump directly. At the same time, he addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that he “still has a moment — right now — to stop this war.”

A scandal on the eve of Charles III’s visit

The exchange of statements came shortly before the planned state visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the United States. The trip is scheduled for April 27–30 and is expected to include a state banquet at the White House as well as an address by the British monarch to Congress.

Trump himself on Thursday called Charles III “a friend of mine” and said that he was “looking forward to dinner.”

The situation is further complicated by the ongoing immigration dispute surrounding Prince Harry in the U.S. It was previously reported that the State Department had found more than 2,400 pages of documents related to his visa. The possible release of these materials has been postponed until at least June 12 — after the royal visit is over.

The Heritage Foundation has been seeking disclosure of the documents since 2023. The organization claims that proper vetting may not have been carried out when Harry’s visa was issued following his past admissions of drug use.

According to Newsweek, royal commentators believe that a public clash with the sitting U.S. president could further complicate Harry’s position, as his immigration status in the country remains the subject of legal disputes.