Donald Trump will be welcomed to Windsor by Prince William and Princess Kate and treated to a royal carriage procession that he was denied on his first state visit to Britain, Buckingham Palace confirmed.
King Charles III invited the U.S. president to Britain for a historic second state visit in a letter handed over in person by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the Oval Office earlier this year.
And the palace today confirmed major details ahead of the president’s arrival next week, from September 16 to 18.
Donald Trump and King Charles III share a toast at Winfield House, in London, during the U.S. President’s first state visit to Britain, on June 4, 2019.
Donald Trump and King Charles III share a toast at Winfield House, in London, during the U.S. President’s first state visit to Britain, on June 4, 2019.
Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Among the major differences compared to Trump’s first U.K. state visit, in his first term as president, is that he will be welcomed by Prince William and Princess Kate at Windsor Castle and escorted to meet the king, whereas Kate played a relatively small role the first time around.
The bigger change, though, is that Trump will finally get a carriage procession as the Brits ramp up the pageantry to maximum.
The first state visit was in London, and security concerns made a carriage procession impossible.
This time, though, a carriage procession through the estate at Windsor has been given the green light, no doubt in no small part because it will not be overlooked in the way that London streets are.
A Buckingham Palace press release read: “The President and First Lady will arrive in the grounds of Windsor Castle on the morning of Wednesday 17th September.
“Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales will greet The President and First Lady and accompany them to meet Their Majesties.
“Their Majesties The King and Queen will formally welcome The President and First Lady outside, as a Royal Salute is fired from the East Lawn of Windsor Castle and at the Tower of London.
“Thereafter, The President and First Lady will join The King and Queen, and The Prince and Princess of Wales, in a Carriage Procession through the Windsor estate, towards the Castle.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.