The following is the transcript of the interview with Sir Christian Turner, U.Okay. ambassador to the U.S., that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on April 26, 2026.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We flip now to the British Ambassador to the United States. His Excellency, Sir Christian Turner. Good to have you ever right here.
AMB. CHRISTIAN TURNER: Good to be right here. Margaret, thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You too, have been in that ballroom final night time. You acquired lots of safety coaching for unstable international locations the place you could have been posted as an expert diplomat over the course of your profession. Did you ever think about in considered one of the most closely guarded rooms in DC, you’d have to put that to use?
AMB. TURNER: Well the coaching I’ve had in a few of these locations I’ve been really kicks in final night time, you mainly do what you are instructed and let the skilled safety people do what they do. And I feel it was considered one of my massive takeaways final night time. I feel it was a- I’m with the individuals who say it was successful story. The Secret Service completely did what they wanted to, not solely that, however seeing really all the journalists in the room and their coaching kicking in in a weekend that’s all about the freedom of the press. I’m stuffed with admiration for the manner folks responded final night time.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well you- me too, however you could have every week forward of you, as a result of King Charles and Queen Camilla are anticipated to arrive tomorrow. This is a going to be a giant occasion no matter what occurred final night time. But simply to be clear, you have not modified your safety evaluation. You imagine it’s nonetheless secure for them to come and converse to Congress and be at the White House?
AMB. TURNER: So we reply to that skilled recommendation. I’m at the moment planning to be welcoming their Majesties tomorrow. But after all, our staff has been in contact manner via the night time, and we’ll be via the day to see whether or not the occasions of final night time have any change in our operational planning. And I’m very assured that their Majesties may have the absolute best safety all through the go to.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper, there’s one other massive ballroom gathering deliberate, proper? For the King.
AMB. TURNER: it is going to be a rare three or 4 days for us. Margaret. We’ve been planning this go to for years. Really, it is the 250th between our two international locations. I imply a somber background after final night time for all of us. But I nonetheless hope we’ll have the option to showcase this second to make it the celebration that it deserves to be.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, a celebration, however to be clear, it is also a little bit of restore work proper to the particular relationship. The president had been fairly upset with your Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who did not initially help the offensive operations by the U.S. and Israel in opposition to Iran, and the president was very clear he was not comfortable with him. He mocked him. He mentioned he is no Winston Churchill. He mentioned it was too late for the UK to even supply assist. And then there was different rigidity about the UK. As a NATO ally, how a lot restore work is that this go to really about?
AMB. TURNER: Well, the extraordinary factor in the British Constitution, after all, is the king is above politics. I’ve to remind folks, he is by no means given–
MARGARET BRENNAN: He’s a particular political asset, let’s be clear.
AMB. TURNER: But he is by no means given an interview, which I’ve to remind folks as a result of, after all, he is the head of state, however he isn’t the head of presidency. So really, that is why we are able to make this a second to step up and step again. And I feel, I imply, simply to take it again to final night time. I imply, the different takeaway is that sturdy sentiment you have been simply discussing with your final visitor, the president, calling for us to resolve our variations peacefully, that there’s, there is no such thing as a place for political violence in any of our democracies. You know, these are, these are enduring messages. They’re baked into our political make-up, into your political make-up, that skill for us to look again we had a small distinction of opinion in 1776. 1776 we have been via that. We’ve- we have come a really good distance, and that, in a manner, for me, is what’s so enduring about this relationship. It’s that we have had variations. Thatcher to Reagan. Roosevelt with Churchill really over how to deal with Stalin. These are moments in the relationship however really it endures as a result of it’s so deep on safety, sure, NATO on our funding. We are the largest investor in 21 states, $430 billion of commerce. I imply, the statistics come out, nevertheless it’s really about the those that we would like this to focus. So I’m, I’m very assured that is the place we’ll need to focus our time this week. And I ought to add, the prime minister spoke to the president this morning after the incident, the king despatched a private message to the president and first girl. So really, in diplomacy, it is as a lot private as it’s political.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, on the diplomatic entrance, the UK has been convening European international locations to attempt to determine what to do with the Strait of Hormuz after fight ends. You know the Iran file fairly nicely. You have been beforehand a negotiator right here. What’s your evaluation on who’s operating Iran proper now and whether or not we see an finish to this battle anytime quickly?
AMB. TURNER: So, it is tough in in Tehran, there are clearly some divisions. You pointed to that preliminary disagreement earlier than the battle, however since then, Margaret, really, the UK, has been doing rather a lot. We have been utilizing our bases for defensive strikes. We’ve flown one thing like 2000 sorties with plane in the Middle East capturing down drones and missiles to shield our allies each night time, in very shut coordination with the US. And, after all, our intelligence base, we do not discuss it a lot, nevertheless it’s the absolute basis of of a lot that’s that’s going on. We share the identical intent, the identical coverage as the US. We need to constrain this regime and its risk. We need the straits open once more. So this coalition you refer to that President Macron has labored with, with my Prime Minister, Keir Starmer on, what we would like, that to do one thing like 50 international locations coming collectively to work out —
MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary Hegseth referred to as it foolish. He mentioned it was only a bunch of conferences.
AMB. TURNER: Well, it’s —
MARGARET BRENNAN: What are you going to plan to do–
AMB. TURNER: Yeah, it’s planning, as soon as the straits are open, to be certain that the navigation we’d like has acquired the assurance of a complete bundle of boats, of drones, of intelligence to have the option to be sure that transport goes via. Because that is what American residents want. That’s what British residents want. The folks of Asia want. The international financial system is struggling, and we would like to see that resolved.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It is certainly. Thank you, ambassador, good luck this week. We’ll be proper again.
