• e-mail

Prince Charles's tea with Donald Trump overran by 15 minutes as the pair mulled over a range of issues – and even managed to discuss climate change without crossing swords.

It had been suggested that the two men might lock horns over the issue because they have such differing views on the subject.

The future king is passionate about green issues and has long and loudly warned about the ecological disaster he believes the planet is facing.

Prince Charles cracks a joke as he and Camilla hosts a private afternoon tea for the US President and his wife at Clarence House  where Mr Trump pledged to raise climate change

However, the US President has called global warming a 'Chinese hoax' and announced that America would stop taking part in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation, claiming it would undermine his country's economy.

But while Mr Trump and Prince Charles discussed the issue, it seems they did not fall out. Indeed, the meeting at the Prince's London residence of Clarence House, which started at 4pm and had been due to end at 4.30pm, did not finish until 4.45pm. While an overrun of a quarter of an hour may not sound long, in terms of a State visit, where timings are adhered to like clockwork, it is significant and proves the two men had much to talk about. Sources described the meeting as 'warm and friendly'.

US President Donald Trump (right) and his wife Melania (left) at Clarence House in London to take tea with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall on the first day of his state visit to the UK

Indeed, pictures show Charles, Mr Trump and their wives in the Morning Room at Clarence House, laughing and relaxed before they disappeared for talks.

Camilla had changed into a pretty spotted Fiona Clare dress for the occasion, although Melania did not have the chance to change out of the dark blue and white outfit she wore to meet the Queen.

A photographer in the Morning Room dropped her flash diffuser as the couples entered the room, and Charles laughed as he picked it up, remarking: 'It looks like an ice cream.' He and Mr Trump smiled broadly as they appeared to share a couple of jokes with one another.

US President Donald Trump waves as he leaves Clarence House after a cup of tea with Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall 

A smiling Queen welcomes Donald Trump for lunch at Buckingham Palace with other senior royals including her son Charles

The Queen, President Trump and Melania laugh as Prince Charles and his wife Camilla chat on the Buckingham Palace stairs

The visitors were shown a letter written by the Queen Mother to her daughter, the then Princess Elizabeth, in 1939 during a state visit to the US.

Dated June 11 1939, it begins 'My Darling Lilibet' and continues: 'It was such fun talking to you both on the telephone today, and directly after we had spoken we went off for a picnic luncheon.

'There were a lot of people there, and we all sat at little tables under the trees round the house, and had all our food on one plate – a little salmon, some turkey, some ham, lettuce, beans & HOT DOGS too!'

Mr Trump and his wife were also shown an Oscar Nemon sculpture of Sir Winston and Lady Churchill which was presented to the Queen Mother in November 1990.

Apart from their meeting earlier in the day at Buckingham Palace, Charles and Mr Trump have encountered one another once before – in New York during the prince's 2005 tour of the US.

President Donald Trump and Prince Charles inspect the Guard of Honour at Buckingham Palace carried out by the Grenadier Guards

Charles was also at the funeral of former president George Bush Senior in December, at which Mr Trump was present. The prince did not take part in last year's working visit by Mr Trump to Britain.

Welcome: Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall greet the President and his wife in the Morning Room at Clarence House

for 'warm and friendly' talks which ended up over-running