The Lasting Impact of Churchill 60 Years Posthumously: Why Trump Regards Him as a Role Model | UK News

Sir Winston Churchill passed away 60 years ago this week on 24 January 1965, with his funeral occurring on 30 January after three days of lying in state at the Palace of Westminster.

This event marked the sole occasion since the Second World War when a full state funeral was held for an individual not belonging to the Royal Family.

Churchill was revered as the prime minister who led Great Britain to triumph over Hitler and the Nazis. Since then, he has consistently ranked at the top in polls asking for the “Greatest Briton.”

In 1965, a significant number of individuals who experienced the war firsthand were still living. To commemorate his life and passing, the Royal Mint produced a ‘Churchill Crown,’ valued at five shillings, which was a rare occurrence in the 1960s.

The funeral was a strikingly grand affair, featuring thousands of troops from all armed services. It had been meticulously planned for at least 12 years, with the ailing subject actively involved in its preparations.

The solemnity and grandeur of the event solidified Britain’s standing for ceremonial events; however, afterwards, French President General de Gaulle, who was reluctantly invited, remarked: “Now Britain is no longer a great power.”

As notable as the national and global reactions were at the time of his death, the fact that Sir Winston Churchill continues to be an iconic figure more than fifty years later is remarkable.

A new drama portraying Churchill is premiering on stage in London, featuring Roger Allam, known for Inspector Thursday in the Endeavour TV series, as the legendary leader in *Churchill in Moscow*, following in the footsteps of past portrayals by stars like Brian Cox, Albert Finney, and Richard Burton.

Bust returned twice

With the inauguration of a new U.S. president, the location of Churchill’s bust has resurfaced as a hot topic, especially in right-wing British media.

Donald Trump reinstated the bronze bust by Sir Jacob Epstein to a prominent position in the Oval Office. Originally a loan from the British Embassy to President George W. Bush, it was moved elsewhere in the White House by both Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Trump has since returned it twice.

Obama placed a bust of Martin Luther King Jr. in a prominent position, while Joe Biden opted for the Irish-American Bobby Kennedy. There has also long been another identical copy of the Epstein bust residing in the presidential private quarters, a gift to Lyndon Johnson in 1965.

Churchill’s grandson, Nicholas Soames, a former Conservative MP currently in the House of Lords, is dismissive of the commotion. He emphasizes: “It’s loaned. I assure you, it’s not a reflection of the strength or weakness of the special relationship, whether or not Churchill’s bust is in the White House.”

Trump’s admiration for Churchill appears more personal than merely being anglophile. His official inaugural photo resembles Churchill’s iconic “we shall never surrender” poses, and some of Trump’s social media posts have misquoted Churchill’s famous lines. The film *Darkest Hour*, showcasing Gary Oldman as Churchill, is among Trump’s declared favorite movies.

Leader comparisons

Trump’s allies are often keen to draw parallels between him and Churchill. In 2020, after Trump made his way to St John’s Church near the White House for a photo-op following its damage from a firebomb, his spokesperson remarked that it symbolized “a message of resilience and determination, akin to Churchill surveying the bombing aftermath,” presumably referring to the Blitz.

After visiting his father following the recent assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, Trump’s son Eric drew a comparison between him and Churchill, citing his “lack of political correctness”.

Trump is not the only president to draw inspiration from Churchill. Both Eisenhower and George W. Bush took up painting, partly motivated by Churchill’s artistic talent.

Trump, being a fan of grandeur, may feel disheartened by the 24.6 million television viewers who tuned in for his second inauguration, a figure that didn’t rival either Joe Biden’s or Barack Obama’s first.

This discrepancy may be attributed to the growing fragmentation of audiences due to new media influences brought in by tech billionaires, who were invited to the ceremony personally by Trump.

In 1965, a comparable number, 25 million, watched Churchill’s funeral in the UK, creating an overwhelming audience in a far smaller country than the US. At that time, there were only two television channels, and the service was broadcast live by both the BBC and ITV.

On the BBC, it was the last state occasion presented by Richard Dimbleby, the patriarch of the Dimbleby broadcasting family. Audiences in the US were also substantial, while the ceremony was not broadcast live on RTE in Ireland, and neither the Irish president nor prime minister attended.

As a small boy at the time, I vividly recall the coverage, marking one of the two major highlights of the black and white television era. The other was England’s World Cup victory in 1966. Back then, extended outside broadcasts were a rarity; both the funeral and the cup final took place during the day on a Saturday—a time when viewing options were limited.

Rare honour of state funeral

The funeral was an extraordinary televised event featuring foot soldiers, cavalry, RAF flyby displays, and transportation by boat, train, manpower, and hearse. The meticulous planning began after Churchill’s first major stroke in 1953.

At that point, he was in his second term as prime minister, and the dire state of his health was concealed from the public, despite him being partially paralyzed. Those in the know, working for the royals and at Westminster, initiated preparations for Operation Hope Not.

Executing the plan necessitated a message from the Queen to parliament, followed by a motion the day after Churchill’s passing to authorize a state funeral.

Full state funerals are customarily reserved for heads of state. In recent years, the late Queen Mother, Princess Diana, the late Duke of Edinburgh, and former prime minister Margaret Thatcher received ceremonial funerals, but these did not match the scale or international protocols of a state funeral. The next full state funeral in Britain was for Elizabeth II in September 2022.

Churchill’s embalmed body was displayed in Westminster Hall for three days, with over 300,000 individuals paying their respects. The funeral commenced as Big Ben struck 9:45 AM, receiving a 90-gun salute in Hyde Park—one for each year of Churchill’s life—before the bell was silenced for the remainder of the day.

As soldiers and mourners filled the streets of London, Churchill’s coffin was placed on a gun carriage, drawn by 98 sailors from the Royal Navy, to St Paul’s Cathedral. It was carried inside by honorary pallbearers that included three other British prime ministers and an Australian prime minister. At 82, Clement Attlee stumbled on the steps and was provided with a chair to rest.

Queen broke with protocol

Following the service, the catafalque was transported to the pier by Tower Bridge and taken upriver to Waterloo Station. As the boat passed, cranes on the docks lowered in tribute—a gesture previously debated regarding its spontaneity. Despite his final journey being via train, Churchill insisted on proceeding through Waterloo rather than Paddington to signify historical British pride.

He was ultimately laid to rest at St Martin’s Church, Bladon, on the Blenheim estate, where he rests alongside his parents and other members of the Spencer Churchill family.

Churchill was the first prime minister during Queen Elizabeth’s reign, and throughout the day of the funeral, she broke protocol to ensure he received precedence. She hosted a reception for the dignitaries present, which included nine monarchs, 15 presidents, and 14 serving prime ministers.

It is perhaps fortunate that Donald Trump will not be around to witness if his own final ceremonies outdo this.