The King has invited US President Donald Trump to make a second state visit to the United Kingdom, marking an unprecedented move for an American leader.
Mr Trump, who was already granted a grand state visit in 2019 under the late Queen Elizabeth II, is now set to receive a second such honour. Traditionally, second-term US presidents who have previously made a state visit receive a more low-key engagement, such as tea or lunch at Windsor Castle, as was the case with George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
However, Mr Trump—now the first convicted felon to become US president—has received a formal invitation for another state visit. The invitation was personally delivered by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a meeting at the White House on Thursday. Handing over the letter from the King, Sir Keir remarked, “This is truly historic and unprecedented.”
Upon reading the letter, Mr Trump responded: “That’s a great, great honour. And that says at Windsor – that’s really something.” The US president had earlier stated he planned to visit the UK in the “near future”. The King’s letter indicated that should Mr Trump visit either of his Scottish golf courses, he might be welcomed at Balmoral or Dumfries House to discuss plans for the state visit.
Buckingham Palace has yet to confirm details of the invitation or potential visit dates. The decision to extend a second state visit is widely seen as a strategic diplomatic move, as the royal family plays a key role in soft power engagement with global leaders.
A unique royal invitation
A stay at Balmoral could appeal to Mr Trump’s personal ties to Scotland—his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born on the Isle of Lewis. Additionally, he owns two golf resorts in Scotland.
Buckingham Palace’s ongoing £369 million refurbishment is limiting its ability to host state visits, making Balmoral a practical alternative. The historic Scottish retreat has been a royal sanctuary since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852. It was also where the late Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022, marking the start of King Charles III’s reign.
The only previous US president to stay at Balmoral was Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959, though his visit was informal rather than a state occasion. Eisenhower enjoyed a warm relationship with the late Queen, who personally greeted him at Balmoral’s gates and later sent him a handwritten scone recipe.
Speculation over state visit details
Many questions remain about the specifics of the visit, including whether a formal state banquet will be held and who will accompany Mr Trump in his presidential party. Speculation has arisen over whether billionaire businessman Elon Musk, a close ally of the president and his senior adviser on federal spending, might be included.
The King had previously sent a personal congratulatory message to Mr Trump upon his inauguration for a second term, reflecting on the enduring “special relationship” between the UK and the US. However, tensions have emerged, particularly given past remarks from high-profile Labour figures critical of Mr Trump.
The US president has stirred controversy in his second term with statements such as calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” and straining relations with European allies.
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Despite political tensions, Mr Trump has frequently expressed admiration for the British monarchy. He previously claimed to have “automatic chemistry” with the late Queen and has described King Charles III as a “really wonderful guy”.
Trump and the royal family
During his 2019 visit, Mr Trump was treated to a full programme of British pageantry, including a ceremonial welcome, a grand state banquet at Buckingham Palace, and tea at Clarence House with then-Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
However, his interactions with the royal family have not always been smooth. When he met the Queen at Windsor Castle in 2018, he awkwardly walked ahead of her during a guard of honour inspection, forcing her to navigate around him. He later described her as a “beautiful woman.”
Mr Trump has also been publicly critical of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. He has accused them of treating the late Queen “very disrespectfully” and questioned whether Harry should be deported from the US over his past drug use. However, in a recent statement, he softened his stance, saying, “I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife.”
The possibility of King Charles and Queen Camilla making a reciprocal state visit to the US in 2026 has also been raised, coinciding with America’s 250th anniversary of independence.
While Mr Trump has spoken fondly of his interactions with the royal family, author Craig Brown has claimed in his book A Voyage Around The Queen that the late Queen found Mr Trump “very rude” and particularly disliked how he “couldn’t stop looking over her shoulder, as though in search of others more interesting.”
As the details of Mr Trump’s state visit unfold, the unprecedented invitation highlights the continuing complexity of UK-US relations under his second presidency.
