US President Donald Trump will pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth II during his second state visit to the United Kingdom next week, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
The president will lay a wreath at the late monarch’s tomb in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on 17 September, the first full day of his three-day visit.
He will be accompanied by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who will formally welcome him at Windsor alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales. A royal salute will be fired at Windsor and at the Tower of London, followed by a joint flypast of UK and US F-35 fighter jets with the Red Arrows.
The visit runs from 17 to 19 September. Traditionally, US presidents in a second term are not accorded state visits, but are instead invited for a royal engagement with the monarch.
A state luncheon will be held at Windsor on Tuesday, after which President Trump will visit the Queen’s resting place in private before a short tour of St George’s Chapel. That evening, a formal banquet will take place at Windsor Castle, with speeches expected from both the King and the president. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has said he will boycott the event in protest at US policy over Gaza.
On 18 September, Trump will travel to Chequers, the prime minister’s country residence in Buckinghamshire, where he will be greeted by a guard of honour from RAF Halton and traditional bagpipers. He is due to hold bilateral talks with Keir Starmer, who extended the invitation to the UK on behalf of the King during a White House meeting in February. The two leaders are expected to discuss a potential UK-US trade agreement. Trump will also view the Sir Winston Churchill archives held at Chequers.
First Lady Melania Trump will join Queen Camilla at Windsor for a tour of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and the Royal Library. She will also meet the Princess of Wales at Frogmore Gardens to take part in an event with members of the Scouts movement.
The three-day programme will conclude on 19 September, with further private meetings before the president departs.
Images: Photographer: SGT Paul Randall RLC UK MOD © Crown copyright 2021 MOD Crown Copyright News / Editorial Licence.
