Chinese social media reacted with amusement and disbelief as Britain’s King Charles gave US President Donald Trump a World War II-era British submarine bell as a gift, highlighting differing cultural interpretations of the unusual gesture.

“Gifting a bell isn’t a big deal in Western culture – but it’s quite amusing, as far as we’re concerned!” a user on Chinese social media wrote.

On Tuesday, during his state visit to the United States, King Charles presented Trump with the original brass bell from the HMS Trump, a 1944 British submarine that coincidentally bears his last name.

Plucked from the vessel’s conning tower, the artefact was presented to Trump in a carefully choreographed gesture.

Unveiling the bell during his state dinner speech, the British monarch said: “May it stand as a testimony [sic] to our nations’ shared history and shining future,” before adding a touch of English humour to the proceedings. “And should you ever need to get hold of us, well, just give us a ring,” Charles quipped.

Britain’s King Charles presents a bell to US President Donald Trump as a gift during a state dinner for the king and Queen Camilla, at the White House on April 28. Photo: Reuters

The flattery had its intended effect. Trump stood up, clapped and gave the king a thumbs up.