Donald Trump ‘to make UK state visit in September’ as he praises ‘his friends King Charles and Prince William’
DONALD Trump is to visit the UK as he praises his "friends King Charles and Prince William".
The US President is expected to arrive in the UK in September.
Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Trump are believed to have spoken about the trip on a telephone call.
An official plan is close to being formally agreed, it is understood.
Trump will visit Windsor Castle, where he met the late Queen in 2018, as opposed to the expected Balmoral or Dumfries House.
As reported by The Telegraph, the Government had offered several options to the White House.
Prince William and Princess Kate live a stone's throw away from the castle at Adelaide Cottage with their three children.
An official state visit to Windsor Castle would likely mean Wills would be involved, alongside Kate.
This comes after Sir Keir Starmer presented Mr Trump with a hand-signed letter from the King during his White House visit in February.
It invited the US leader to stay at either Dumfries House or Balmoral, which was respected as a high honour.
During the meeting, Trump publicly accepted the King’s invitation and said: “The answer is yes. We look forward to being there and honouring the King, honouring the country.”
Meanwhile, Mr Trump has now appeared to suggest Buckingham Palace was “setting a date for September” for his second state visit to the UK.
The US president told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday: “I was invited by the King and the country – great country.
“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 its ever happened to one person.
“And the reason is we have two separate terms, and it’s an honour… I’m a friend of Charles, I have great respect for King Charles and the family, William, we have really just a great respect for the family.
“And I think they’re setting a date for September.”
This follows Mr Trump's deputy suggesting he could strike a trade deal with the UK due to his love of Britain.
Vice President JD Vance insisted there is a "good chance" of an agreement due to his affection for our country.
The positive soundings from the White House comes as the UK faces 10 per cent tariffs on goods heading stateside.
Mr Trump's number two revealed the thinking of the US administration in a major interview with Unherd.
Vance said: "There’s a real cultural affinity … I think there’s a good chance that, yes, we’ll come to a great agreement that’s in the best interest of both countries.”
Downing Street are expected to greet the news warmly as they attempt to mitigate the levies.
Trump used a White House ceremony two weeks ago to formally lay out his tariff plans - that originally hit the European Union with a 20 per cent surcharge.
But Britain is keen to reduce the 25 per cent levy on cars, aluminium and steel.
Vance buyer during the first major overseas interview that Trump's affection for the royal family could swing a deal.
He said: "The president really loves the United Kingdom. He loved the Queen.
"He admires and loves the King. It is a very important relationship."
Vance also revealed that the US was working "very hard" to secure an economic deal with the UK.
He said: "With the United Kingdom, we have a much more reciprocal relationship than we have with, say, Germany …
"While we love the Germans, they are heavily dependent on exporting to the United States but are pretty tough on a lot of American businesses that would like to export into Germany.”
President Trump was awarded his first state visit to the UK in June 2019, with no US President offered two such distinctions.
He has spoken regularly of his fondness of the Royal family, especially the late Queen.
In December he met with Prince William in Paris, and later told the PM he was greatly impressed by the heir to the throne.
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A Whitehall insider said last month: “He’s already been to Windsor and Buckingham Palace, so Balmoral is being talked about.
“Everyone knows he loves Scotland and it’s near his golf course.”
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