US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will go on a state visit to the United Kingdom, and the Prince and Princess of Wales will greet them.
The couple will be greeted by the royal family on Wednesday before joining King Charles III and Queen Camilla for an outdoor welcome and a carriage parade through Windsor Castle’s grounds. However, it was confirmed before their arrival that the dates of the state visit would be switched, resulting in a significant alteration to the proceedings.
Trump and Melania were originally scheduled to land in the UK on Wednesday and leave on Friday, Sept 19. The couple has a hectic schedule, so they will arrive on Tuesday instead, but they won’t be participating in any public events. They will depart on Sept 18 after an engagement at Chequers.
Warren A. Stephens, the US ambassador to the UK, and Henry Hood, the Lord-in-waiting, will receive Trump and Melania on behalf of Charles and Camilla on the first day. The couple will spend the night at Windsor Castle and avoid any public appearances on Tuesday night.
The next day will be a hectic one as Prince William and Kate Middleton, who were on a joint engagement on Monday, will be welcoming the President and First Lady. Charles and Camilla will then formally greet them, and the Tower of London and Windsor Castle’s east lawn will both honour them with a royal salute. The British royals and Trumps will then participate in a carriage procession across the Windsor estate’s gardens. Members of the armed services will line the path.
Following their inspection of a Guard of Honour at Windsor Castle, Trump and Charles will have lunch in the State Dining Room. After that, the visiting presidential couple will have the opportunity to see a unique exhibit of US items from the Royal Collection at the Green Drawing Room.
Charles and Trump will visit the late Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb, whom the latter admired. There will be a brief tour of the St George’s Chapel and a wreath-laying ceremony. A Red Arrows flypast and a State Banquet will mark the end of the day.
Trump and Melania will have separate engagements on the last day. The US president is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his spouse, Victoria, at Chequers. He will see the Sir Winston Churchill archives and attend a business reception that Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is hosting.
Kate and Melania’s joint engagement
Melania will visit Kate in Frogmore Gardens after touring Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and Windsor Castle’s Royal Library. They will meet with Scouts’ Squirrels program members and Chief Scout Dwayne Fields. The Princess of Wales has served as the Scout Association’s president since 2020. This highlights a larger diplomatic initiative by the UK to develop strong relations with the Trump administration.
As the state visit draws to a close, Melania will reunite with her husband at Chequers.