Are President Donald Trump and King Charles III distant relatives?
President Donald Trump has shared an image of a British tabloid headline suggesting he is a cousin of King Charles III.
Although America’s 250th anniversary is still many months away, Britain is already marking the milestone by presenting the United States with a large, custom-made coin to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The oversized gift was presented in Washington, D.C., on April 28, during King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s four-day state visit to the United States, highlighting how the relationship born of the revolution has developed into what British officials describe as one of the closest alliances in the world.
“This 250th anniversary is a historic moment in American history. What began in conflict 250 years ago has become the closest partnership in history, built on shared values and firmly pointing toward a common future,” His Majesty Lord Christian Turner said in a press release.
The coin, produced by the Royal Mint, is approximately 190 millimeters (7.48 inches) in diameter and weighs 250 ounces (15.6 pounds), according to the British Embassy in Washington, D.C.
full of symbolism
British officials said that apart from its impressive size, the coin is filled with symbols alluding to the founding of the United States. For example, the coin has 13 sides, representing the 13 colonies that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776.
The obverse of the coin features a portrait of King Charles, with 45 leaves to the left, each representing 45 different U.S. presidents, and 10 leaves to the right representing 10 different British monarchs who have reigned since the Declaration of Independence.
On the other side, the other side of the coin, the American Eagle, can be seen in “high relief”.
“Inscriptions around the edges record the history of American presidents and British monarchs since 1776, emphasizing the theme of continuity and parallelism in the history of democracy,” the British Embassy continued.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
