The President is expected to visit Windsor Castle and spend time with the Royal Family
President Donald Trump has suggested Buckingham Palace is “setting a date for September” for his historic state visit to the UK.
Sir Keir Starmer handed Trump an invitation from King Charles when he travelled to Washington, DC in February in an unprecedented gesture towards an American leader for a second state visit.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Thursday afternoon, Trump said: “I was invited by the King and the country – great country.” The announcement came in the wake of bilateral talks with the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who also offered the US President a state visit to Rome.
“They’re going to a second, as you know, a second fest… that’s what it is: a fest, and it’s beautiful, and it’s the first time it’s ever happened to one person,” Trump continued.
The President said it was “an honour” to be invited. “I’m a friend of Charles,” he added, “I have great respect for King Charles and the family, William, we have really just a great respect for the family.”
The plans for the state visit are being viewed as a potential move for the Government to reaffirm transatlantic ties with the new White House administration and potentially strike a trade deal amid Trump’s tariff war.
Starmer and Trump are understood to have discussed the state visit during a recent telephone call, The Telegraph reported, with final plans close to being formally agreed.
The main venue for the visit is expected to be Windsor Castle, rather than Balmoral or Dumfries House as previously thought. The two Scottish estates are close to the President’s own golf courses.
Windsor Castle was where Trump met and had tea with Elizabeth II, before inspecting of the guard during his first visit in 2018.
A visit to Windsor would also probably mean William would be involved, along with Catherine if she is well enough. The Prince and Princess of Wales live with their three children at Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate, within walking distance of the castle.
The negotiations come as the Government seeks an enhanced trade deal with the US amid the threat of Donald Trump’s tariff threat.
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The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said she will hold talks with the White House next week amid efforts to strike a UK-US trade deal, despite Trumpdownplaying the likelihood of any imminent agreements.
Asked on Thursday whether the UK is within three weeks of a deal, the Chancellor told broadcasters: “Those conversations with our US counterparts are ongoing.
“I will be in Washington next week for the International Monetary Fund annual meetings, their spring meetings.
“I will also be having conversations with the US administration whilst I’m there.
“The key thing for the British Government is always acting in the UK’s national interest, and any deal that’s able to be secured will always have front-and-centre British national interest.”
However, in comments made earlier on Thursday, the US President said he would be in “no rush” to reach any deals because of the revenues his new tariffs are generating.
Trumpsaid lots of countries wanted to reach deals “frankly… more than I do,” and that any agreements would come “at a certain point”.
But during a meeting with Meloni he suggested that it would be easy to find an agreement with the European Union and others.
“We’re in no rush,” Trumpsaid.
A 10 per cent tariff on imports of UK goods into the US was imposed earlier this month, alongside a 25 per cent levy on car imports.
