U.S. President Donald Trump has accepted an invitation from King Charles III for a second official state visit to the United Kingdom, Buckingham Palace confirmed. The visit, set for September 17 to 19, will see Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted at Windsor Castle, a departure from the traditional Buckingham Palace setting, which is currently undergoing renovations.
This marks a rare occurrence, as second-term presidents are not typically granted a full state visit. Trump’s first visit took place in 2019 under the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Now, King Charles III and Queen Camilla will welcome the former president with a full ceremonial programme, including a state banquet in St George’s Hall at Windsor.
The visit underscores a strong symbolic gesture by the UK, signaling the importance of the transatlantic relationship. All senior members of the Royal Family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, are expected to participate. French President Emmanuel Macron was similarly hosted at Windsor last week the first such event at the castle in over a decade raising the castle’s status as a new hub for diplomatic engagements.
Security will be tight, as with all U.S. presidential visits. Public-facing events are unlikely, and Trump will likely avoid open road travel, just as he did in 2019. There will be no speech to the House of Commons, as Parliament will be in recess; however, the House of Lords will be in session.
The invitation was formally extended in February by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a meeting with Trump at the White House. The visit aims to soften diplomatic tensions, particularly around the war in Ukraine and U.S. tariffs on British exports. Trump, a noted monarchist, previously expressed admiration for the Royal Family, calling King Charles a “friend” and praising the family’s legacy.
Trump is also expected in Scotland later this month for the opening of his new golf course in Aberdeenshire, although no private meeting with the King is planned during that visit due to logistical constraints.
