Buckingham Palace Announces Surprise Change to Donald Trump’s State Visit Later This Year
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The King and President Trump will likely meet at Windsor Castle in September after a personal invitation was extended by the monarch
By Simon Perry
President Donald Trump will head to the U.K. for a second state visit later this year alongside his wife, First Lady Melania Trump
The King extended an official invitation to the President that was hand-delivered to the White House last week, Buckingham Palace has confirmed
The state visit marks a change from the more "informal" trip that was initially planned
King Charles will welcome President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to the U.K. later this year, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
Formal planning for the state visit is underway, with an authoritative report in The Times saying it will take place in September. A formal letter of invitation — known as a ‘manu regia’ — signed by the King, 76, was hand-delivered to the White House by British officials in Washington last week.
A Palace aide says, "His Majesty has known President Trump for many years and looks forward to hosting him and the First Lady later this year."
It was initially thought that a less formal visit would take place at one of Charles’ Scottish homes, possibly during the summer break, with another, longer visit to follow.
In his initial letter of invitation, handed to Trump in the Oval Office by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in February, Charles suggested such an informal visit would also offer a "valuable chance to plan a historic second State Visit to the United Kingdom."
Queen Elizabeth II (C),U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and First Lady Melania Trump (R) attend a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace on June 3, 2019 in London, England. President Trump's three-day state visit will include lunch with the Queen, and a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, as well as business meetings with the Prime Minister and the Duke of York, before travelling to Portsmouth to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
Queen Elizabeth flanked by Donald and Melania Trump before the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in June 2019.
Jeff Gilbert - WPA Pool/Getty
However, due to both the King's and the President's schedules, that has not been possible to arrange, PEOPLE understands.
Upon receiving the initial February invitation, Trump gladly accepted the monarch's hospitality.
"The answer is yes, on behalf of our wonderful first lady, Melania, and myself, the answer is yes," he said. "We look forward to being there and honoring the King, honoring your country. Your country is a fantastic country, and it will be an honor to be there."
The visit will most likely center on Windsor Castle, and Prince William and Kate Middleton will probably help Charles and Queen Camilla to welcome the guests and attend a glittering state banquet.
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It will be a second and unprecedented state visit for Trump, coming after he visited the late Queen Elizabeth in 2019.
That trip came after much back-and-forth about timings due to protest fears, The New York Times reported at the time.
Donald Trump and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II inspect a Guard of Honour
Queen Elizabeth and President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle in July 2018.
Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty
During their visit, a state banquet was hosted at Buckingham Palace by the late Queen, with the then-Prince Charles, the future Queen Camilla, William, and Kate in attendance.
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Elizabeth also met Trump and Melania on July 13, 2018, at Windsor Castle, where the president made waves by walking in front of the monarch while inspecting the Guard of Honor, widely interpreted as a breach of protocol around the sovereign.
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