Trump, obsessed with gold and power, unsurprisingly loves the British royalty

The Trumps travel to Blenheim Palace for dinner.

(Image credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

last updated 13 July 2018

While President Trump has had few nice things to say about anybody on his tumultuous trip through Europe, he was bubbling over with praise ahead of his meeting with 92-year-old Queen Elizabeth II. "If you think of it, for so many years she has represented her country, she has really never made a mistake," Trump told British tabloid The Sun. "You don't see, like, anything embarrassing. She is just an incredible woman."

Trump has a long history of being obsessed with the royal family, The Boston Globe reports. "Anything that says 'fancy' really appeals to him," explained Trump biographer Michael D'Antonio. "And I think a lot of the environment that the royals find themselves in would be gilded and he loves gilding, he loves anything that is just the color of gold. If he could have a crown, he would love it."

Trump revealed to The Sun that his mother, who was from Scotland, was the root of his interest in the queen: "My mother loved the queen. Any time the queen was on television, my mother wanted to watch it." But Trump's interest in the royal family doesn't end there — he also famously tried and failed to seduce Princess Diana. Prince Charles and Prince Andrew were also invited to his wedding to Melania Trump, but turned down the invitation.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.

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