King Charles gifts Trump historic ship bell, jokes ‘just give us a ring’
WASHINGTON, DC: At a state dinner at the White House, Britain's King Charles III gave US President Donald Trump a historic naval artifact.
This made the formal event a little more fun. The gift was an original ship bell from a British submarine from World War II. It came with a funny comment that made everyone laugh.
The King is in the United States on an official visit, which included a number of diplomatic meetings to strengthen ties between the two countries.
Historic naval bell presented as symbolic gift
During his remarks, King Charles said he was “delighted” to present Trump with the original bell from HMS Trump, a British submarine launched in 1944.
The King noted that the gift was intended to reflect the longstanding relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States.
King Charles presents President Trump the original bell from the HMS Trump.
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 29, 2026
“Should you ever need to get hold of us, just give us a ring” pic.twitter.com/J2NROMRqpA
“Tonight, Mr President, I am delighted to present to you as a personal gift the original bell,” Charles said, noting it “may stand as a testimony to our nation’s shared history and shining future.”
The vessel served in the Pacific during World War II, and the bell is regarded as a historical artifact linked to that period.
He then added with a smile, “And should you ever need to get hold of us… just give us a ring,” prompting a warm reaction from guests.
Light moment during formal proceedings
The moment stood out amid the formal setting of the state dinner, where speeches typically focus on diplomacy and bilateral relations. The use of humor highlighted a more relaxed aspect of the interaction between the two leaders.
The visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla forms part of broader efforts to maintain strong ties between the UK and the US.
Alongside ceremonial events, the visit has included discussions on areas of mutual interest and cooperation.
King Charles also made a joke about American history and language that made people laugh.
Referring to comments by President Donald Trump about Europe, Charles quipped: “Dare I say that if it wasn’t for us, you’d be speaking French?”
The line prompted laughter from the room as the King added that both nations “love our French cousins greatly,” before pivoting back to the enduring relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.
🇬🇧🇺🇸 King Charles to President Trump:
— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) April 29, 2026
"You recently commented…if it were not for the United States, European countries would be speaking German."
"If it wasn't for us, you'd be speaking French." pic.twitter.com/Q5QG8kUGKs
The presentation of the ship bell and the accompanying remark added a notable moment to the visit, combining historical symbolism with a brief instance of levity during the official proceedings.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted a wide-ranging guest list Tuesday night for the state dinner honoring King Charles III and Queen Camilla, bringing together leaders from politics, business, media and tech.
Among those attending were Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, Jensen Huang and Marc Andreessen, alongside top administration officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
