Trump to Receive Historic Second UK State Visit with Full Royal Honors

Donald Trump will arrive in Britain this week for an unprecedented second UK state visit, with London relying on royal pageantry to charm the unpredictable US president.

The 79-year-old Republican will be treated to a carriage procession with King Charles III, a military flyover, and a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle. Britain hopes the pomp will bolster ties ahead of crucial talks between Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, focused on trade, tariffs, and the war in Ukraine.

Starmer, who has worked to maintain cordial ties with Trump since his return to the White House in January, acknowledged the historic nature of the visit. “This is really special, this has never happened before, this is unprecedented,” he said, recalling when he hand-delivered Charles’s invitation to Trump at the Oval Office in February.

Trump accepted, praising the monarch — currently receiving cancer treatment — as a “great, great gentleman.”

– Royal pageantry –
The visit plays directly into Trump’s well-known admiration for the British royals — his mother was Scottish — and his taste for grandeur. He often reminisces about his 2019 state visit with Queen Elizabeth II. He will now be the first US president granted a second such honor.

Prince William and Princess Catherine will welcome the Trumps to Windsor on Wednesday, ahead of ceremonies hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla, capped with a state banquet. Trump will also make a private stop at Queen Elizabeth’s grave, following her death in 2022.

– Politics at Chequers –
The ceremonial displays give way to hard politics on Thursday when Starmer hosts Trump at Chequers. Britain aims to secure a trade deal early in Trump’s second term, while avoiding punitive US tariffs. Officials say agreements on a “world-leading tech partnership” and a “major civil nuclear deal” are expected.

Ukraine will also dominate the agenda. European leaders, including Starmer, are pushing Trump to maintain support for Kyiv despite his warming stance toward Russian President Vladimir Putin.

– Melania’s program –
First Lady Melania Trump will accompany Queen Camilla and Princess Catherine on separate engagements, including a visit to the Queen Mary Dolls’ House at Windsor and a scouting event.

– Tensions simmer –
Despite the red-carpet treatment, friction is unavoidable. The White House confirmed Trump plans to raise concerns about free speech in the UK — echoing complaints recently amplified by Elon Musk at a far-right rally.

Complicating matters further, Starmer last week dismissed British ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, over his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein — an issue also casting a shadow over Trump in the US.

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