A groundbreaking new book by USA TODAY’s Washington bureau chief Susan Page reveals the intricate and often surprising dynamics between Queen Elizabeth II and a succession of U.S. presidents. From the spectacle of Donald Trump’s 2019 state visit—complete with a ruined palace garden—to a previously unreported phone call where the Queen smoothed over a diplomatic crisis, the account underscores the monarch’s famed discretion and political shrewdness. Despite Trump’s assertion that he was her favorite, reactions from former presidents and aides suggest a more nuanced reality.
Queen Elizabeth II reigned for seven decades, navigating relationships with 14 U.S. presidents—a diplomatic tightrope walk that required equal parts ceremony and statecraft. A new book by veteran journalist Susan Page pulls back the curtain on these private encounters, revealing moments of humor, tension, and profound political calculation. The most explosive revelations center on Donald Trump’s 2019 state visit and its aftermath, offering a rare glimpse into how the monarchy managed one of America’s most unpredictable leaders.
The book, “The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History,” scheduled for release on April 14, 2026, by Harper, draws on extensive interviews and previously unreported detailsUSA TODAY. Page, the Washington bureau chief for USA TODAY, has crafted what promises to be a definitive account of the Queen’s behind-the-scenes influenceUSA TODAY.
The Garden Incident: A Rocky Start
One of the most vivid anecdotes comes from the very start of Trump’s June 2019 state visit. As Marine One landed on the Buckingham Palace lawn, the helicopter’s powerful downdraft flattened the Queen’s carefully tended flowers and left divots in the grass. “She was furious about that,” a senior palace aide later recountedUSA TODAY. The Queen confided her distress to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison shortly after, showing him the damaged lawn and declaring, “It’s ruined.” This moment, seemingly trivial, symbolized the clash between the protocol-heavy world of the monarchy and the unorthodox style of the Trump presidency.
The State Dinner and Charm Offensive
At the glittering state dinner that evening, Trump engaged the Queen in a distinctive style. He attempted, in his characteristic manner, to extract gossip about her previous presidential encounters, asking outright who her favorite had been. The Queen, ever the diplomat, deflected with a smile: “Why? They were all so good.” Trump later marveled at her skill, admitting, “I couldn’t get her to say a bad thing about anybody.”USA TODAY This exchange highlighted the Queen’s lifelong training in neutral, positive public commentary—a discipline that served her through seven decades of global upheaval.
The Harry and Meghan Question
The Queen’s discretion extended even to the most painful family matters. During the state visit, Trump claimed he repeatedly pressed the Queen about her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, who were already causing turbulence within the royal family. “I asked her about it constantly,” Trump saidUSA TODAY. The Queen’s consistent reply: “No, no. It’s very nice.” Trump believed the situation “hurt her” and that Harry and Meghan “didn’t treat her with the respect that she should have.” This insight underscores the Queen’s commitment to keeping private grievances private, even with foreign leaders.
The Crisis and the Queen’s Intervention
Three weeks after the state visit, a diplomatic bombshell hit. Leaked confidential memos from British Ambassador to the U.S. Kim Darroch painted President Trump as “insecure” and his administration as “dysfunctional.” Trump erupted in anger, and Darroch was forced to resign. At this tense moment, the Queen intervened with a private phone call to Trump. The details of the call had not been previously disclosed. Trump said the Queen expressed disbelief at the ambassador’s remarks, essentially calling Darroch “a stupid person” without using those exact words. “She didn’t call (Darroch) a fool, but she basically indicated that he was a stupid person,” Trump recountedUSA TODAY. This personal intervention helped defuse the crisis, demonstrating the Queen’s willingness to use her personal influence to preserve the “special relationship” between the two nations.
Trump’s Claim of Being the Favorite
In the aftermath, Trump became convinced that he had earned a unique place in the Queen’s esteem. He claimed that others had told him he was her favorite president. “We just got along,” Trump said, a sentiment echoed by his ambassador, Woody Johnson. However, this assertion was met with derision from many who knew the Queen well. Senior palace officials and former presidents reacted with “startled laughter.”USA TODAY
Reactions from Former Presidents
Jill Biden, when asked, dismissed Trump’s claim as “hysterical” and fitting Trump’s character; President Joe Biden shook his head in agreement. Hillary Clinton responded, “Why am I not surprised?” and noted there was “no evidence” to support such a claimUSA TODAY. Bill Clinton, speaking from his own experience, suggested the Queen was too shrewd to ever single out a favorite; she made each president feel special. “I have no idea what she really thought of any of us,” Clinton said, adding, “I just know … what I thought of her, and I thought she was really special.”USA TODAY These reactions reveal a broader skepticism among Washington’s elite about Trump’s self-assessment, while also paying tribute to the Queen’s legendary interpersonal skills.
The Queen’s Legacy of Discretion
What emerges from these accounts is a portrait of a monarch who treated every presidential relationship as a delicate diplomatic project. Whether enduring a helicopter-ruined garden, deflecting awkward questions, or making a private call to soothe a frayed alliance, Elizabeth II consistently prioritized the stability of the Anglo-American partnership. Her ability to maintain cordial relations across political divides—from Dwight Eisenhower to Barack Obama—was not merely personal charm but a calculated statecraft. Trump’s presidency tested this system like none before, yet the Queen’s instinct for privacy and protocol held firm. The fact that her interventions remain, in many cases, hidden from history speaks to her mastery of quiet influence.
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