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Donald Trump showed more enthusiasm when he spoke about meeting Queen Elizabeth II than about anything else, according to an esteemed US political journalist. The US President, who met the late monarch during his state visit to the UK in 2019, vividly recalled their encounter during his interview with top US political journalist Susan Page.

As well as interviewing Trump a total of three times, Ms Page has reported on seven White House administrations, 11 presidential elections and has interviewed 10 presidents during her almost five-decade career. As she spoke exclusively to the Express following the release of her book, The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History, Ms Page revealed what Trump was like.

Speaking ahead of King Charles's historic state visit to the US, Ms Page explained: "I've interviewed Trump several times... I can tell you he has never shown more enthusiasm about anything than he showed about Queen Elizabeth in my interview with him."

In her book, Ms Page reveals that during his state visit to the UK, Trump took his opportunity to ask the late Queen about the most contentious subject: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The author recalls what the President told her about what he'd asked after the state banquet in 2019: "I asked her about it constantly, I'd say, 'Come on, tell me (what you really think).'"

"She replied, 'No, no. It's very nice.' Trump was unpersuaded. 'I really think it hurt her,' he said. 'I just don't think they treated her with the respect that she should have, frankly.'"

Ms Page detailed the rest of the conversation she had with the President: "I couldn't get her to say it. I'm good at that, too," he said. She demurred.

"She would always say, 'No, no, would be lovely, lovely.' But it wasn't lovely, and I think it hurt her. I really think it hurt her. It was tremendous dissension."

President Trump has never been one to hold back his views on Harry and Meghan. He previously told the New York Post: "I don't want to do that [deport Prince Harry]. He's got enough problems with his wife. She's terrible." The next day, the Duke gave a speech in front of 40,000 people during the Invictus Games opening ceremony, condemning "weak moral character in the world" before thanking the veterans, in what was viewed as a swipe at Mr Trump following his comments on Meghan Markle.