King Charles to welcome Trump at Windsor Castle as state visit brought forward

The King will welcome Donald Trump to Windsor Castle in September for a state visit to the UK.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer in February hand delivered a note from the King to the US president, inviting him to visit him to an informal meeting in Scotland as a precursor to a full state visit, which has now been brought forward by many months. Buckingham Palace was understood to have been hoping for a more leisurely approach amid concern over Trump's threat to make Canada the US's 51st state. However, sources confirmed after conversations between both parties the King and the US president's busy diaries mean they are unable to meet informally first over the summer.

The Times reported that Sir Keir has gone against the wishes of the King by bringing Trump's "bells and whistles" state visit forward to September. Charles, who is King of Canada, had suggested in a letter personally delivered to Mr Trump by Sir Keir in the Oval Office in February that they might meet at Balmoral or Dumfries House Scotland first before the much grander state visit.

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But it is understood that, although all options were explored, there were logistical challenges surrounding an informal visit, with complexities in both the King and Trump's diaries meaning a private meeting was not possible over the course of the summer months.

The diary issues come despite the King heading to Scotland for his summer break each year, and Trump being expected to visit his new, second golf course in Aberdeenshire when it opens this summer. Formal planning for the official state visit has now begun.

The Manu Regia, the hand-signed formal invitation from the monarch to Trump for a second state visit, was hand-delivered last week by British representatives from the Washington embassy to the White House. A Palace aide said: "His Majesty has known President Trump for many years and looks forward to hosting him and the First Lady later this year."

The exact dates of Trump's stay will be announced in due course, but September is said to be the most likely. Tensions between the US and Canada remain after Trump's outbursts and threats at the start of his second term.

In response, the King, during a visit to open the country's parliament in May, appeared to deliver a warning shot to the US president, saying the country is “strong and free”. During a historic address for the opening of parliament at the Senate in the capital Ottawa, appeals for calm in light of Canadians “feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them”.

The King’s visit to Canada, one of the 14 realms where he is head of state, comes in the wake of prolonged aggression from Trump who, amid a global trade war, has claimed the country should become the 51st state of America. Trump has described his return to the UK as a "fest", after already being granted a grand state visit to the UK, hosted by the late Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2019.

Precedent for second-term US presidents who have already made a state visit is usually tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle, as was the case for George W Bush and Barack Obama. But Mr Trump is being treated with an unprecedented second state visit for a US president, this time at Windsor.

The Times suggested Sir Keir was hoping to prioritise his attempt to curry favour with Mr Trump and capitalise on the president's fascination with the royal family.

Asked if No 10 had overruled the King over the visit, a Downing Street spokesman said: "That's untrue. During his visit to the White House in February the Prime Minister was delighted to extend His Majesty the King's invite for a historic second state visit to the president and first lady and the president was pleased to accept. Of course the Prime Minister looks forward to welcoming President Trump."