WAS Princess Kate’s dress at the Commonwealth Day Service a secret message to Donald Trump?
Experts have debated whether the Princess of Wales was making a political statement with her bright red outfit at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
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There has been some suggestion Kate, 43, had been showing her support for Canada amid the US President’s brewing trade war with the country.
POTUS 47 has threatened his North American neighbours with an historic financial punishment for threatening to impose 25% tariffs on electricity in three US states.
He also tripled down on his obsession with making Canada part of the US – saying such a notion would guarantee tariffs disappear completely.
Speaking on this week’s Sun Royal Exclusive Show, royal editor Matt Wilkinson asked his guests if the red dress was a message or “are we reading too much into that?”
TalkTV’s royal editor Sarah Hewson said she “hadn’t thought about that”, but then referred to how during Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s visit to Windsor after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the late Queen made her leanings very clear.
“The late Queen had blue and yellow flowers in a huge bowl behind Prime Minister Trudeau, and that was a very deliberate show of support for Ukraine,” said Ms Hewson.
“So, perhaps these outfits don’t happen by chance.”
Mr Wilkinson said, while the royals “often leave these little Easter eggs for us”, he doubled down, adding: “She’s not political. The Princess of Wales doesn’t get into that kind of thing.”
Veteran Sun royal photographer Arthur Edwards, who was also a guest on the show, agreed but went on to say: “She’s been to Canada and she loved it there.
“Look, it’s never going to happen, it’s never going to be the 51st state, but it’s just crazy times at the moment and we’ve just got to ride the storm.”
He described King Charles welcoming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Sandringham after his bizarre televised grilling from Trump and right-hand man JD Vance at the White House, “was a master stroke”.
“Letting everybody know that this country supports these people,” Mr Edwards added.
Brit PM Sir Keir Starmer had handed Trump a royal invitation of his own just days before, during his own trip to the White House.
Ms Hewson said the Republican leader was “apparently irritated” by the Zelensky royal meeting just hours after his showdown, and was left him feeling “a little less special about his invitation”.
“Kind of like the jealous child in the playground,” she continued. “Not wanting his mate to play with anyone else.
“That was very much a gesture, a metaphorical arm around Ukraine after that very bruising encounter.”
KATE AND WILLS SHARE A JOKE
Kate joined Charles at the Commonwealth event after they both missed last year due to their cancer treatments.
They looked a picture of health and seemed to embody the event’s theme — “Together we Thrive”.
Kate smiled and giggled with husband Prince William as they were joined by other senior Royal Family members for the event at Westminster Abbey.
She looked especially delighted when confronted by Masai dancers performing during the event.
Kate sat in the front row of the Abbey with Charles, 76, William, 42, and Queen Camilla, 77, in a pink dress and coat, to celebrate the Commonwealth.
Wills and Camilla led the royals at the service last year.
Surprisingly, Kensington Palace revealed that Kate was wearing a red dress by Catherine Walker and hat by Gina Foster.
It was reported last month that the Palace would no longer comment on her outfits to keep focus on her work.
The thrifty princess has worn the dress, which comes with a bow, several times including during her first Christmas Carol concert at the Abbey in 2021.
Kate also wore Collingwood pearl and diamond earrings, which once belonged to Princess Diana, and the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Japanese four-strand pearl choker.
Kate and the King’s health problems of last year looked like a distant memory as she joked with her family and smiled at other guests.
The Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester also joined a 2,000-strong congregation which included former Spice Girl Geri Horner, cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy and PM Sir Keir.
Why has Trump hit China, Canada, and Mexico with tariffs?
DONALD Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on Chinese imports to the US and has threatened 50% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum. But, why did he propose the levies?
China:
- Trump believes China has not done enough to stop the production of chemicals used to make the drug fentanyl.
- China has slammed Trump for the claim and described fentanyl as America’s problem.
- The country also said the tariffs are a “serious violation” of the World Trade Organization rules.
- China is therefore filing a lawsuit with the WTO against the US for “wrongful practice”.
- China serves as a major supplier of auto parts to the US.
- Phones and computers along with other key electronic devices were also in the top imports from China last year, according to Commerce Department Data.
- In 2023, the US imported around $427 billion worth of products from China in total, according to the US Census Bureau.
- Data reveals that 78% of all smartphones imported from the US came from China.
- Trump’s tariff threat has sparked fears of price rises for fashion items and toys.
- Beijing has responded by outlining its own tariffs on American goods, sparking fears of an all-out trade war between the two powerhouses.
Canada:
- Trump doubled his initial 25% tariff proposal on Canadian steel and aluminum after Ontario Premier Doug Ford countered by charging 25% more for the electricity his province provides to about 1.5 million Americans in Minnesota, New York, and Michigan.
- The president said the new 50% levies on Canadian steel and aluminum will take effect on the morning of March 12.
- Ford, on the other hand, instructed Ontario’s Independent Electricity System to implement a $7-per-megawatt-per-hour fee on all power exports to the three US states.
- The Ontario premier warned that he “will not hesitate to increase” the levies or completely shut off power to the three US northeastern states.
- Trump ignited a trade war with Canada and Mexico during his first days in office as part of a campaign promise to stop the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigrants into the United States.
- He said both countries had not done enough to halt the drug flow and the mass influx of migrants from reaching US soil.
Mexico:
- Mexico has managed to twice postpone Trump’s tariffs on Mexican goods.
- On February 1, Trump signed an executive order to impose tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China.
- But, on February 3, Trump agreed to pause the levies against Canada and Mexico after the countries took steps to appease Trump’s concerns on border security and drug trafficking.
- On March 4, Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports go into effect.
- But, on March 6, the president postponed the 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and some from Canada for a month.
- Trump credited Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s progress on border security and drug smuggling as a reason for the pause on the levies.
- Still, Trump has maintained that on April 2 the US will begin imposing reciprocal tariffs on all its trading partners, including Mexico.
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