Buckingham Palace announces surprise change to Donald Trump’s state visit later this year

Plans for President Donald Trump’s upcoming state visit to Britain have shifted, with Buckingham Palace confirming a change to the arrangements for later this year.  King Charles will officially welcome President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, with formal planning for the visit now in motion.  According to a report in The Times, the visit is expected to take place in September. Last week, British officials hand-delivered a formal letter of invitation from King Charles, known as a manu regia, directly to the White House to confirm the event.  A Palace aide commented, “His Majesty has known President Trump for many years and looks forward to hosting him and the First Lady later this year.”

Royal schedules prompt adjustment to visit details

Initial plans called for a more informal meeting at one of King Charles’s residences in Scotland during the summer, followed by a full state visit at a later date. This idea was mentioned in the King’s invitation, which was presented to President Trump by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer back in February. Charles noted that an informal gathering could serve as a “valuable chance to plan a historic second State Visit to the United Kingdom.”

However, due to conflicting schedules for both King Charles and President Trump, PEOPLE reports that the informal visit could not be arranged, and the royal household is now focused on the September event.  President Trump accepted the invitation without hesitation, saying, “The answer is yes, on behalf of our wonderful first lady, Melania, and myself, the answer is yes. 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 formal visit will likely center around Windsor Castle, with Prince William and Kate Middleton expected to help King Charles and Queen Camilla welcome the American guests at a state banquet.  This will mark an unprecedented second state visit for President Trump, who previously visited Queen Elizabeth in 2019 after a long period of negotiations due to protest concerns. That earlier trip included a state banquet at Buckingham Palace and an official welcome by the royal family.

Trump and Melania first met Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle in 2018, when the president’s decision to walk in front of the monarch during an inspection of the Guard of Honor drew criticism for breaking royal protocol.  With this year’s visit, all eyes will be on the pageantry, the politics, and how the updated plans reflect the evolving relationship between the United States and the British monarchy.