Donald Trump will be hosted by King Charles during second state visit to UK
It will be Trump's second ever state visit to the UK
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was all smiles as he handed a letter by King Charles to the US President Donald Trump
(Image: Getty Images )
US President Donald Trump has officially accepted an invitation from King Charles III for a second state visit to the United Kingdom, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. President Trump will be accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump during the visit.
It was also announced that the visit is scheduled to take place from September 17 to 19. The Royal Family will host them at Windsor Castle, as Buckingham Palace continues to undergo renovations. This visit will mark Trump's second state visit to the UK.
His first was in 2019 under Queen Elizabeth II during his earlier term in office. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
A second state visit for a US president is highly unusual, as returning presidents are typically invited for a more informal tea or lunch with the monarch.
While the complete itinerary has not been released, the visit will include traditional elements such as a ceremonial welcome and a state banquet at St George's Hall in Windsor Castle.
Senior members of the Royal Family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, are expected to participate.
Article continues below
The choice of Windsor Castle as the venue reflects its increasing role in royal diplomacy. Just last week, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, were hosted there in the first state visit at Windsor in over a decade.
Their visit included a public carriage procession, though similar events for Trump are considered unlikely due to high-level security requirements.
During Trump's 2019 visit, there was no ceremonial procession along The Mall for safety reasons, and the president was largely transported by air rather than road.
It remains unclear whether President Trump will address UK parliamentarians during this visit. While the House of Commons will be in recess for party conference season, the House of Lords will still be in session.
The invitation was personally presented to President Trump in February by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a meeting at the White House.
Mr Trump joked that he needed to check King Charles' signature on the letter before holding it for the reporters
(Image: Getty Images )
Trump called it a "great, great honour," particularly noting the significance of being hosted at Windsor Castle.
The visit follows King Charles's recent trip to Canada in May, where he opened Parliament to mark the start of Prime Minister Mark Carney's leadership.
That visit was interpreted by many as a gesture of support amid tensions with the U.S. following trade disputes during Trump's previous term.
This state visit is also seen as a strategic move by the UK government to build rapport with a president who has openly expressed admiration for the British monarchy.
In April, Trump said, "I'm a friend of Charles, I have great respect for King Charles and the family, William. We really have a great respect for the family."
The visit offers a chance for the UK to discuss key issues such as the war in Ukraine and trade tariffs affecting British exports to the U.S.
Article continues below
President Trump is also expected to visit Scotland in late July open a new golf course in Aberdeenshire.
An informal meeting with King Charles had been considered for that trip, but logistical challenges have made that unlikely. The two leaders will instead meet formally in September.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
14 minutes ago
- Times
Trump booed as Chelsea players raise Fifa Club World Cup trophy
President Trump left Chelsea players bemused by refusing to leave the stage as they lifted the Club World Cup trophy in New Jersey on Sunday. Trump was booed and cheered in the MetLife Stadium as he spent the afternoon next to his wife Melania, the first lady, and Gianni Infantino, the Fifa president. He saluted and sang along to The Star-Spangled Banner, America's national anthem, a year to the day since he survived an attempted assassination at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final of a tournament that has drawn almost 2.5 million fans over the last three weeks, making it one of the best-attended sporting events in American history. A delighted Trump later joined the Chelsea players as they raised the trophy. He beamed as the jubilant footballers, including the England stars Reece James and Cole Palmer, celebrated around him, perhaps previewing what the victorious team at the World Cup can expect. While football is the world's most popular sport, in the US, 'soccer' has long been overshadowed by American football, baseball, hockey and basketball. Yet Trump has embraced football and often speaks of his excitement about next year's World Cup, which will be held in the US, Canada and Mexico. The Olympics will be held in Los Angeles in 2028. During speeches this year, he has said that losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden worked out for the best because it allowed him to be president while two major sporting events arrived in America. 'Can you imagine? I missed that four years, and now look what I have. I have everything,' he said in May. Trump enjoys attending sporting events and uses them to project the image of a beloved statesman. He is a regular guest at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events, where he soaks up the adulation of the crowd while slowly making his way to his ringside seat. In June last year, days after a guilty verdict in a hush money criminal trial, Trump received a standing ovation at a UFC fight in New Jersey, suggesting his legal problems would have a limited impact on the presidential election. He defeated Kamala Harris in November. In February, Trump became the first sitting US president to attend the Super Bowl, held in New Orleans. Trump has also attended the Daytona 500 race in Florida and the National Collegiate Athletic Association wrestling championships in Philadelphia this year. However, he has shown a particular interest in the World Cup. Trump worked hard to secure the World Cup during his first term in 2018 and has a replica of the golden trophy in the Oval Office. Alexi Lalas, a former US defender who played in the 1994 World Cup in America, previously told The Times that Trump 'is the most pro-soccer president that we have ever had'. 'From a cultural, legacy and political perspective, he understands the power of what is coming next summer,' he said. Trump is expected to attend the opening game at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City next June, and will surely be at the MetLife for the final in July to hand over the trophy to the winning team. Alan Rothenberg, who led the organising committee for the 1994 World Cup, which was held solely in the United States, expects the president to be 'front and centre' of next year's tournament, and said that he may 'want to kick out the ceremonial first ball'. He said: 'There's one thing nobody would dispute. Trump enjoys the attention.' As well as the World Cup, 2026 is the 250th anniversary of America's founding, another event Trump is delighted to be presiding over. Trump has promised a UFC championship fight in the grounds of the White House to celebrate the milestone.
The Guardian
19 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Trump's presence at Chelsea's trophy lift was a fitting coda to a misguided tournament
For the first four weeks of the 2025 Club World Cup, there had been the danger that the tournament would soon be largely forgotten. There is no danger of that after the final. There had been unease after the 2022 World Cup final at the way Qatar inserted itself into the trophy presentation by draping a bisht over Lionel Messi, but at least the Emir kept his distance. Donald Trump, by contrast, placed himself front and centre of the celebrations – and he was soon joined by the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, who has a pathological fear of missing out, and must follow his great ally in all things. And so we were presented with a grimly perfect image of this misguided tournament, a celebrating football team struggling to be seen from behind the politicians who took centre stage. The confusion of Cole Palmer and Reece James at Trump's continued presence was clear. History, and not just football history, will not forget such shameless grandstanding, or Fifa's complicity in allowing football to be hijacked by a national leader. It was a day the ramifications of which will be sifted for years. As a footballing spectacle, it was remarkable, a game in which Palmer produced a performance to elevate him to global stardom, in which Robert Sánchez did much to quiet his many critics, in which Enzo Maresca announced himself as a tactician of the highest rank. There had been plenty of intrigue earlier in the tournament – Al-Hilal's last-16 victory over Manchester City and Real Madrid's capitulation in the semi-final perhaps most notably – but they had always been undercut by doubts as to how seriously each side was taking it. But PSG's determination to add the world title to the Champions League crown they won in May was obvious and, in the final, they were outplayed to a startling degree. Luis Enrique's side had essentially been untouchable since the turn of the year, not just winning games but looking sharper than opponents, on another tactical level. They had outclassed Madrid in the semi-final to the extent that the game was done within 20 minutes. Yet the final was lost by half-time as their left flank was repeatedly over-run. Khvicha Khvaratskelia, whose defensive work is usually so striking, didn't make a single tackle or interception (PSG's front three as a whole managed just one regain between them) and Fabián Ruiz was bypassed so that Nuno Mendes, who for a year has seemed obviously the best left-back in the world, was repeatedly exposed, sometimes to Malo Gusto but sometimes, more dangerously, to Palmer. Palmer produced one of the great final performances, scoring the first with a great finish, the second with a great finish after a dummied pass of almost comical effectiveness and then setting up the third with a barrelling run and perfectly calibrated pass for João Pedro. Perhaps PSG were disadvantaged by having played in the second semi-final; perhaps in the extreme heat an extra 24 hours of rest makes a huge difference. Still, it's been a long time since anybody has taken Luis Enrique's PSG apart like that – even if it took two exceptional saves from Sánchez to prevent PSG getting a second-half goal that might have made the denouement more anxious than it was. There have been plenty who have doubted Maresca's tactical approach, his apparent over-caution, his obsession with avoiding risk. But on Sunday, he clearly got the gameplan right. Using Pedro Neto as an auxiliary wing-back helped negate the forward surges of Achraf Hakimi but it was on the other flank, the way space was created for Palmer, that the game was won. These were moments that will define careers and, in so doing, offer legitimacy and prestige to the Club World Cup. As world champions, after a performance like that, with a squad of such depth, Chelsea have to be considered serious contenders for the Premier League title. But in the end, the football seemed an afterthought. There is always something uncomfortable to the European mind in the militarism of US sporting fanfare (which has begun, regrettably, to seep into the FA Cup final). Why was the Star-Spangled Banner played before kick-off? When has the host's anthem ever previously been played like that at a Fifa event? Why was there a fly-over of military planes? Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion By the trophy presentation, that had become something much more sinister. Was the US hosting football, or was football hosting the US? Or rather a particular vision of the US represented by Trump? Fifa has just opened offices in Trump Tower: Infantino's alliance with the president is both committed and alarming. And having pushed through his vision of the Club World Cup with all its flaws without meaningful consultation, what next for Fifa? Checks and balances simply don't apply any more. This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@ and he'll answer the best in a future edition.
Scottish Sun
20 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Trump shipping long-range missiles to Ukraine will change face of war' after ‘p****d' Don's patience with Putin runs out
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE long-range weapons Donald Trump is reportedly planning to send to Ukraine could deal a major blow to Russia, military experts told The Sun. Trump, who appears to be growing increasingly frustrated with tyrant Vladimir Putin, is set to announce an "aggressive' new weapons plan to support Ukraine. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Dozens were injured in Kyiv following a massive ballistic missile and drone attack launched by Russia last week Credit: East2West 10 Fires broke out in at least 13 locations across five districts in Kyiv after the attack Credit: Reuters 10 Soldiers of Ukraine's 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade fire a Grad multiple rocket launcher towards Russian positions at the frontline in Donetsk region Credit: AP 10 Donald Trump speaks with the media at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland Credit: Reuters He has promised to send MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems - which are used to stop incoming missiles - to Ukraine. But he has also suggested that the US would supply "very sophisticated" military hardware to Ukraine. Patriot rockets - which act as America's primary air defence system - were successfully used in the Middle East to shoot down missiles that Iran fired at a US airbase in Qatar. But the military package for Ukraine will also likely include long-range missiles that could reach targets deep inside Russian territory, two sources told Axios. Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a decorated British Army commander, said the shipment of these long-range missiles would have profound "psychological and physical effects" on Ukraine. Mr de Bretton-Gordon told The Sun: "These weapons can strike Moscow - over 400 miles from the border. That allows the Ukrainians to strike drone factory production and ammunition sites, and others. "So this will have both psychological as well as physical effects. "People in Moscow will realise that they potentially could be targeted. Trump slams Putin's 'bulls***' and trashes the tyrant's 'meaningless' promises to end Ukraine war in savage attack "And when you also add to it the American bombings on Iranian sites that were supposed to be impregnable, it shows that American missile and drone technology rather superior to the Russian air defence system." The former army chief said these weapons will put real pressure on Russia, adding: "The metric has now changed and Trump's decision could make a huge difference." Ex-military intelligence officer Colonel Philip Ingram told The Sun how these long-range weapons could help strike Russian missile and drone launchpads - the ones that are used to launch nightly attacks on Ukraine. He said: "The Ukrainians are already attacking to hit Russian military logistics, defence industry bases. "And with these sophisticated weapons, they will have increased capability of doing so. "It will impact the ability of the Russians to prosecute these increasingly large drone and rocket attacks on a nightly basis. "And then that's the best way for the Ukrainians to stop it." Trump is now set to make a "major statement" on Russia - and is expected to reveal more details about the military package. More weapons that Kyiv could receive in the coming days include precision-guided GMLRS missiles and thousands of high-explosive Howitzer rounds. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Axios that he is "really p****d at Putin", and that the announcement is going to be really "very aggressive". 10 10 Trump said he was 'very disappointed' with Vladimir Putin Credit: AFP 10 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomes the American aid package Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Trump reiterated that he was "very unhappy" with Putin since their phone call two weeks ago made no progress on the Ukraine peace deal - something the US president has pushed for since returning to power. Instead, Putin has snubbed peace and is instead steadily increasing his overnight bombing raids - which could soon hit 1,000 a day. Last week, Trump accused Putin of throwing "bullshit" at Washington on Ukraine and making "meaningless" promises. "We get a lot of bull**** thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth," Trump told reporters during a televised cabinet meeting at the White House. "He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless." "We're going to send some more weapons [to Ukraine]. "We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves. They're hit very hard now." Moscow had no immediate reaction to Trump's strongly worded comments about Putin, but the Kremlin said that sending arms to Ukraine only serves to prolong the conflict. 10 Russia is launching the drones in a deadly new development in the war Credit: Alamy 10 Some of the devastation caused by the new wave of Russian attacks on Kyiv Credit: Alamy "It is obvious of course that these actions probably do not align with attempts to promote a peaceful resolution," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying in a briefing. Putin, who himself proposed direct talks with Kyiv to end the war a few weeks ago, has now suggested that diplomacy will not help Moscow achieve its war goals. He has instead increased the intensity of his attacks - hammering Ukraine with almost daily drones and ballistic missile blitzes. Last week, the Russians launched 741 drones and missiles at Ukraine - the biggest single attack of the 40-month war. Some 400 were fired the next day. Over the weekend, 600 drones and 26 missiles including Kh-101 cruise missiles were launched in one of the most intense bombing raids since the inception of the war. Trump also urged Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth to push defence contractors to increase production of armaments. "We have to step them up, Pete, and let them make it at a much higher rate," he said. "Putin is not treating human beings right. He's killing too many people. So we're sending some defensive weapons and I've approved that," Trump added. Experts hope the shipment of these new weapons - and fresh sanctions - could put the Russians back at the negotiating table. 10 An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone and missile strike on Kyiv on Thursday Credit: Reuters
