LONDON, England — U.S. President Donald Trump has formally accepted an invitation from King Charles III for a second state visit to the United Kingdom, Buckingham Palace announced — marking an unprecedented moment in modern royal protocol.
Trump, who is currently serving a second non-consecutive term as U.S. president, will visit the UK from 17 to 19 September 2025.
The visit will take place at Windsor Castle, rather than the traditional Buckingham Palace venue, which remains under renovation.
He will be accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump and hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla during the three-day engagement.
While state visits are typically extended to U.S. presidents only once during their time in office, King Charles has broken precedent to host Trump for a second time — a gesture viewed by analysts as both diplomatically strategic and symbolically significant.
Trump first visited the UK as a state guest in 2019, when Queen Elizabeth II hosted him at Buckingham Palace.
This time, the royal residence of Windsor Castle — which last hosted a state visit just a week ago for French President Emmanuel Macron — will serve as the ceremonial venue.
“This is a great, great honour,” Trump remarked in April when Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer personally delivered the King’s handwritten invitation during a White House meeting.
“And that says at Windsor — that’s really something.”
Although full details of the programme have yet to be released, the visit is expected to include the traditional ceremonial welcome, a state banquet in St George’s Hall, and audiences with senior royals, including the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Security constraints are expected to shape the itinerary. As with his 2019 visit, there will likely be limited public engagements.
A procession along The Mall is not anticipated, and Trump is expected to be transported between engagements largely by air, to minimise risks.
It remains unclear whether Trump will be invited to address parliamentarians — a customary highlight of many state visits.
The House of Commons will be in recess during his visit due to party conference season, although the House of Lords will be in session.
This timing may complicate a full joint address, but officials have not ruled out other forms of parliamentary engagement.
Trump’s strong personal admiration for the British monarchy has long been noted.
In a public interview earlier this year, he described himself as “a friend of Charles” and said he held “great respect” for the royal family, especially Prince William.
Diplomats in London and Washington see the state visit as a key soft power tool for Downing Street, as Sir Keir Starmer’s government seeks to moderate Trump’s stance on the Ukraine war, and ease tariffs currently levied on UK exports to the United States.
The UK has also been keen to underscore the “special relationship” despite tensions over trade and NATO burden-sharing.
Trump’s visit offers an opportunity to reset the tone of transatlantic relations.
The announcement of Trump’s state visit comes months after King Charles visited Canada in a highly symbolic gesture of support for Prime Minister Mark Carney, who assumed office earlier this year.
The King’s visit to Ottawa followed a series of Trump-imposed tariffs on Canada — which fuelled a surge in nationalist rhetoric in Canadian politics.
Trump also sparked outrage by joking about making Canada the 51st U.S. state, an offhand remark seen as provocative in Ottawa.
Before the September visit, Trump is expected to travel to Scotland later this month to open a new golf course in Aberdeenshire.
