Donald Trump has described Prince Harry as a “terrific guy” as he addressed rumours that the duke tried to avoid speaking to him at a Buckingham Palace tour.
The US President said the Duke of Sussex "couldn't have been nicer" when they met at the event, which marked the first day of his UK visit on Monday.
It was reported that the two did not speak to each other after Mr Trump said of the Duchess of Sussex: "I didn't know she was nasty" when asked about her suggesting back in 2016 that she would leave the US if he became leader.
Speaking to Piers Morgan for ITV's Good Morning Britain, the US leader has now clarified his remarks about the duchess after it was widely reported that he had called her “nasty”.
During an interview in the Churchill War Rooms, he said: “I said: 'Well, I didn't know she was nasty'. I wasn't referring to she's nasty. I said she was nasty about me.
“And essentially I didn't know she was nasty about me."
He added: "You know what? She's doing a good job, I hope she enjoys her life... I think she's very nice.
LA-born Meghan will not be present during the President's state visit after giving birth to her son Archie almost four weeks ago.
Mr Trump added that her husband "couldn't have been nicer" when they met on Monday. He said he congratulated Harry, who recently became a father, calling him a "terrific guy".
Asked about rumours that the prince did not want to speak to him, he said: "No, no, no, just the opposite.
"In fact, he spent a lot of time talking to Ivanka and talking to my family. I went up - he couldn't have been nicer. Couldn't have been nicer... I think he's great."
Guests including First Lady Melania Trump and four of Mr Trump's five children dined in the Buckingham Palace ballroom with the Royal family on Monday to mark the president’s UK visit.
The president told the banquet: "Melania and I are profoundly honoured to be your guests for this historic state visit. Thank you for your welcome, for this beautiful weather, your gracious hospitality and Your Majesty's seven decades of treasured friendship with the USA."
Mr Trump praised the courage of the British people during the Second World War and called the Queen a "great, great woman".
"In that dark hour, the people of this nation showed the world what it means to be British," he said.
The US leader also spoke about the NHS, post Brexit trade deals and Jeremy Corbyn during his interview with Piers Morgan, which will be shown from 6am on Wednesday on ITV.
