King Charles invites Trump for unprecedented 2nd U.K. state visit
Global News
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the invite 'symbolizes the strength of the relationship' between the U.K. and the U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump has accepted an invitation to attend an official state visit with King Charles III, which was handed to him in a letter by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Traditionally, second-term U.S. presidents who have already made an official state visit — Trump met formally with Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 — are asked to tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle.
Trump received the “historic” second invite on Thursday during a meeting at the White House with Starmer, making him the only elected political leader in recent times to be handed two by the British monarchy.
“This is really special, this has never happened before, this is unprecedented,” Starmer told the president.
Upon receiving the invite, Trump held it up to cameras inside the Oval Office.
In it, The King asked to meet with the president at Dumfries House, a palatial estate in Scotland, or Balmoral, one of the royal family homes, and suggested the pair review plans for a more extravagant visit.
The letter read in part: “I can only say that it would be … pleasure to extend that invitation once again, in the hope that you … some stage be visiting Turnberry and a detour to a relatively near neighbour might not cause you too much inconvenience. An alternative might perhaps be for you to visit Balmoral.”
“Quite apart from this presenting an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, it would also offer a valuable chance to plan a historic second state visit to the United Kingdom,” the letter continued.
