Claims Charles has used soft power to influence President Trump have been exposed as hot air, campaigners have said.
 
Campaign group Republic has called on Charles to ditch his planned trip to the US, citing Trump's recent actions that threaten the UK and our allies.
 
Royal supporters have argued that Charles's 'soft power' allowed the UK to avoid being the target of Trump's foreign and trade policies. 
 
Trump has since threatened the UK, among others, with steep increases on tariffs if the UK doesn't support his Greenland ambitions. 
 
Speaking for Republic, Graham Smith said today:
 
"Charles visiting Trump in the US will only play into Trump's hands, and will make the UK look weak and servile. Charles clearly has no real influence in foreign affairs or trade."
 
"When Trump favours the UK Charles will accept credit. When Trump attacks the UK's interests, Charles remains silent."
 
"Our head of state is impotent and useless in foreign affairs. Royal soft power is a myth built on a desperation to justify the monarchy's existence."
 
"The reality is that Charles is only willing to do what he's told by the government, and has no independence to speak his mind or defend the UK's interests."
 
"Royalists need to accept that a puppet head of state, one who lacks any mandate, is of no use in promoting the UK's interests around the world."
 
"Foreign affairs and trade turn on serious concerns, not tea with a king. In an increasingly volatile world, we need someone competent, capable and willing to speak to those issues."
 
"An elected head of state in a parliamentary republic can be that person, as they are in Ireland, Germany and elsewhere."