Trump to stay with King Charles and Queen Camilla during UK state visit
US President Donald Trump will stay with King Charles and Queen Camilla during his two-day state visit to the UK next week.
Trump will not have any public engagements on the first day of his state visit, as he will remain on the private Windsor estate, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
Mr. Trump’s second state visit, an unprecedented gesture for an American leader, has been slightly shortened due to his busy schedule, it has been revealed.
The palace has released the itinerary for the controversial American politician’s two-day trip, which begins in full next Wednesday.
Initially planned from September 17 to September 19, Mr. Trump, who is arriving on September 16, will now depart on September 18 after spending a day at Chequers with the Prime Minister.
It is understood that while the president and First Lady are reportedly looking forward to the state visit enormously, September is an extremely busy month for them, and the state visit has been slightly adjusted to accommodate other commitments in their schedule.
In an unusual move, Mr. Trump will be honored with a flypast by the Red Arrows and UK and US F-35 military jets on the east lawn at Windsor Castle, along with a special Beating Retreat military display.
The series of special additions—including the Red Arrows and Beating Retreat, which have never been showcased at an incoming state visit before—will be staged in the US president’s honor on September 17, alongside the traditional grand state banquet and ceremonial welcome.
There will be no public events during Mr. Trump’s first day with the King and Queen at Windsor Castle. His carriage ride will be confined to Home Park due to security concerns and potential hostility from demonstrators.
Mr. Trump, whose visit is expected to incite mass protests, and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, will remain within the castle’s private estate on Wednesday, staying overnight at the royal residence.
Unlike French President Emmanuel Macron, they will not enjoy a carriage ride through the town nor visit London to see the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will play a key role in the high-profile visit, designed to cater to Mr. Trump’s known admiration for the British royal family.
William and Kate have been assigned to initially meet Mr. and Mrs. Trump on the morning of September 17 on the grounds of the Windsor estate, where they will accompany them to meet the King and Queen for an outdoor greeting.
The Trumps, the King, Camilla, William, and Kate will then participate in a carriage procession through the estate to the castle.
Kate will also join the First Lady for an engagement the following day at Frogmore Gardens, where they will meet Chief Scout Dwayne Fields and members of the Scouts’ Squirrels program as they learn about nature to earn their Go Wild badge.
Mr. Trump was reportedly impressed with heir to the throne, William, after meeting him in Paris in December, describing the prince as “very handsome” and noting “some people look better in person.”
Although it is not confirmed, it is likely that the prince and princess, who announced earlier in the year her remission from cancer, will attend the opulent state banquet for Mr. Trump on Wednesday evening in the castle’s St George’s Hall.
The King and Mr. Trump will both give speeches to start the white-tie affair.
There will be plenty of pomp and pageantry to entertain Mr. Trump, with the earlier carriage ride accompanied by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment providing a Sovereign’s Escort.
The route will be lined by members of the armed forces, along with military bands from the Royal Marines, the Army, and the RAF.
A formal welcome with a guard of honor will take place in the castle’s quadrangle, as is customary, followed by lunch with the royal family and a visit to a Royal Collection exhibition within the castle.
The president and his wife will visit St George’s Chapel privately on Wednesday afternoon to lay a wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II, followed by a short tour of the chapel and a musical performance by choristers from St George’s Chapel Choir.
The Beating Retreat will feature Mr. Trump, the King and Queen, and Sir Keir Starmer, along with Lady Starmer, joined by US and British military families to view the colorful pageant of military music and precision drills.
Beating Retreat originated in the early years of organized warfare, where drumming and the parading of Post Guards signaled the closing of camp gates and flag lowering at the day’s end.
On Thursday, September 18, the President and First Lady will formally bid farewell to the King and Queen at Windsor Castle in the morning.
Mr. Trump will head to Chequers, the Prime Minister’s official country residence in Buckinghamshire, where Sir Keir and Lady Starmer will again greet him, along with a guard of honor from RAF Halton and bagpipers.
The president and the Prime Minister will review the Sir Winston Churchill archives at Chequers, followed by a bilateral meeting, a business reception with the Chancellor, and a press conference.
The First Lady, meanwhile, will engage in activities with the Queen and Kate at Windsor.
She will first spend time with Camilla, touring Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and the Royal Library before joining Kate in Frogmore Gardens
The First Lady will later travel to Chequers to join Mr. Trump for the remaining part of the final day’s itinerary, departing later on Thursday.
During his last state visit at Buckingham Palace in 2019, Mr. Trump visited the Abbey and also had tea at Clarence House.
There will be no visit to Parliament. The House of Commons will be in recess for the party conference session, although the House of Lords will still be in session.
Politics Editor
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