Trump to make second state visit to UK in September

US President Donald Trump will make an unprecedented second state visit to the UK from September 17-19 when he will be hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle.

Trump, who is a big supporter of the royal family, particularly of the monarch, will be accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump, during the three-day visit, Buckingham Palace confirmed.

No US president has been invited for a second state visit. Trump previously enjoyed the pomp and pageantry of the state visit in 2019 during his first term when he was hosted by Charles' late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The invitation for the second state visit from the King was hand-delivered by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in February during a meeting at the White House.

After reading it, Trump said it was a "great, great honour" and appeared particularly pleased by the fact he will be staying at Windsor Castle, west of London.

"That's really something," he said.

Precedent for second-term US presidents who have already made a state visit is usually tea or lunch with the British monarch at Windsor Castle, as was the case for George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

The visit is seen as part of Starmer's effort to keep Trump close and lessen the impact of some of his polices on the UK.

But like Trump's previous visit, it's unlikely he will be welcomed by all. Last time, protests included the flying of a giant blimp depicting Trump as an angry orange baby from outside parliament.

Politicians from Starmer's Labour Party have also questioned whether the honour should be extended to Trump at a time that he is supporting Israel's war in Gaza and threatening the sovereignty of allies such as Canada and Greenland.

Charles could also face some challenges during the visit because he is head of state of both the United Kingdom and Canada, which Trump has suggested should become the 51st US state.

During a speech to the Canadian parliament in May, the King highlighted Canada's "unique identity" and "sovereignty," while echoing the words of the country's national anthem when he said: "The True North is indeed strong and free."

State visits to Britain are particularly prized by heads of state because they come with a full complement of royal pomp and circumstance, including military reviews, carriage rides and a glittering state banquet hosted by the monarch.