White House: Trump to travel to Britain Sept 17-19

White House: Trump to travel to Britain Sept 17-19

Donald Trump, the former U.S. President, has accepted an invitation from King Charles III for a second state visit to the UK, scheduled from September 17 to 19. The visit will take place at Windsor Castle, chosen as Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing renovations [1].

Trump will be accompanied by his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, and will be hosted by the King and Queen Camilla. The visit will include a full ceremonial welcome and a state banquet in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle. All senior members of the Royal Family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, will be involved in the event [1].

This visit marks a significant departure from tradition, as second-term presidents are typically not offered a state visit but are instead invited for tea or lunch with the monarch. The invitation came after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer presented Trump with a letter from the King during a meeting in the Oval Office in February [1].

The state visit will come several months after the King's visit to Canada, where he opened the country's parliament. The UK government is using the visit as a tool of soft diplomacy, aiming to influence Trump over the war in Ukraine and reduce tariffs on UK exports [1].

The visit is set to take place when the UK Parliament is in recess, avoiding the possibility of Trump addressing Parliament. This decision was likely influenced by the controversial nature of a potential speech, as some MPs have urged the House of Commons speaker to refuse the honour [2].

Trump's visit is expected to be a controversial event, with protests anticipated and the possibility of further diplomatic tensions. His first visit to the UK in 2019 saw him face criticism for appearing to walk in front of the Queen and for his social media tirades against the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan [1].

The visit highlights the complex nature of the UK's relationship with the U.S., balancing political and diplomatic considerations with the potential for public unrest. The economic implications of the visit are less clear, but it is likely to have some impact on UK-U.S. trade relations, which have been a key focus of the Trump administration [1].

References:
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g25ne7gw6o
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/14/king-charles-schedules-trump-state-visit-for-when-uk-parliament-is-in-recess