King Charles gifts US president WW2 submarine bell from ‘HMS Trump’. #DonaldTrump #BBCNews
King Charles presented U.S. President Donald Trump with the original bell from HMS Trump, a WWII-era British submarine launched in 1944. The submarine served with the fourth submarine squadron in Australia and played a role in the Pacific War. The gift was offered as a symbol of shared history between the UK and US.
Summary
During a formal occasion, King Charles made a personal gift to President Donald Trump: the original bell from HMS Trump, a British submarine with a notable wartime history. King Charles introduced the gift by referencing submarine alliances, specifically noting that HMS Trump was a predecessor to the AUKUS submarine partnership.
HMS Trump was launched from a UK shipyard in 1944 and spent the majority of its service life attached to the fourth submarine squadron in Australia, where it played a critical role during the war in the Pacific. The submarine's name made it a particularly fitting and symbolically resonant gift for the U.S. president.
King Charles framed the bell as a testimony to the shared history between the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as a symbol of optimism for their future relationship. He concluded his remarks with a lighthearted pun, saying 'should you ever need to get hold of us, well, just give us a ring' — a playful reference to the bell itself.
Key Insights
- King Charles notes that HMS Trump was launched from a UK shipyard in 1944, establishing its WWII origins and historical significance as a namesake gift.
- King Charles explains that HMS Trump spent the majority of her service life attached to the fourth submarine squadron in Australia, highlighting the vessel's connection to the Pacific theater.
- King Charles frames the gift within the context of submarine alliances, implicitly connecting HMS Trump's history to modern partnerships like AUKUS.
- King Charles presents the bell as 'a testimony to our nation's shared history and shining future,' framing the gesture as both historically grounded and forward-looking in diplomatic terms.
- King Charles closes with a deliberate pun — 'just give us a ring' — using the bell as a lighthearted symbol of open communication between the two nations.
Topics
Transcript
[0:00] Speaking of submarine alliances, there was one particular Orcus predecessor launched from a UK shipyard in 1944 that served for the majority of her life attached to the fourth submarine squadron in Australia, playing a critical role during the war in the Pacific. Her name HMS Trump. So tonight, Mr. President, I am [0:30] delighted to present to you as a personal gift um the original bell which hung on the conning tower of your valiant namesake. May may it stand as a testimony to our nation's shared history and shining future. And should you ever need to get hold of us, well, just give us a ring.
Full transcript available for MurmurCast members
Sign Up to AccessMore from BBC News
'One if not the largest strikes by Russia on Kyiv since war began'. #Ukraine #Russia #BBCNews
Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults on Kyiv since the start of the war, involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. While most were intercepted, several struck civilian areas including a metro station, shopping center, and residential block. The attack signals that President Putin remains committed to continuing the war.
At least 82 killed in Chinese coal mine explosion. #China #BBCNews
A gas explosion at the Liucheng New Mine in Shanxi, China killed at least 82 workers and hospitalized over 100, making it the worst mining accident in the country in over a decade. Rescue robots are being deployed to reach potentially trapped survivors in toxic tunnels. The incident raises questions about mine safety despite years of stricter regulations.
DR Congo reports more than 200 Ebola deaths | BBC News
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 204 people across three provinces with 867 suspected cases, marking the worst African outbreak in a decade. The Africa CDC has warned 10 countries are at risk, prompting regional surveillance efforts. Response efforts are severely hampered by the M23 rebel conflict in eastern Congo, which has restricted access to affected territories.
Spirit Airlines shutting down after rescue talks collapse | BBC News
Spirit Airlines has ceased operations after failing to secure government bailout funding, becoming the first major US airline casualty in 25 years. The collapse is largely attributed to the Iran war, which has caused jet fuel prices to nearly double, creating unsustainable cost pressures. Aviation consultant Paul Charles warns that other smaller carriers may face similar fates in the coming days.
Is this the true face of Anne Boleyn? | BBC News
A BBC News segment investigates whether facial recognition technology can identify a true portrait of Anne Boleyn, wife of Henry VIII. A University of Bradford team applied facial recognition to historical sketches, proposing that the traditionally accepted portrait may actually depict her mother. Art historians remain deeply skeptical of the methodology.