King Charles III will receive former US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump on an expected state visit to the United Kingdom, scheduled for September this year. This was confirmed by Buckingham Palace in a statement issued this Tuesday, marking a new chapter in the relationship between the British monarch and the American leader, whom he has known for many years.
Formal planning for the meeting is underway, and the visit is expected to take place at the historic Windsor Castle. An official letter of invitation, known as manu regia and personally signed by the King, was hand-delivered to the White House last week by British officials, according to The Times.
A Palace aide stated that “His Majesty has known President Trump for many years and looks forward to welcoming him and the First Lady later this year.” The statement reflects a clear intention to strengthen diplomatic ties and maintain the tradition of hospitality of the British monarchy.
Initially, the possibility of a less formal visit to one of the King’s Scottish residences was considered, possibly during the summer, as a prelude to a larger state meeting. However, scheduling problems for both the monarch and the president prevented that preliminary stage from materializing.
New visit to the English royal family
The first invitation was personally delivered in February by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a meeting with Trump in the Oval Office. In it, the King expressed his desire to use that informal meeting as an opportunity to prepare for a historic second state visit, following the one in 2019, during the reign of Elizabeth II.
Trump immediately accepted the invitation. “The answer is yes, on behalf of our wonderful First Lady, Melania, and myself. We look forward to being there and honoring the King, honoring his country. The United Kingdom is a fantastic country, and it will be an honor to be there,” he declared.
The event is expected to include the participation of Prince William and Kate Middleton, who, along with Queen Camilla, will accompany Charles at a state banquet. Trump’s visit will be his second as a state guest in the United Kingdom, an unprecedented event for an American president.
It should be remembered that during his first official visit in 2019, Trump was received with all the royal formalities by the late Queen Elizabeth II. However, his stay was not without controversy. In a widely criticized act, Trump walked in front of the Queen while inspecting the Guard of Honor, breaking strict royal protocol.