DONALD Trump has called King Charles his friend and an “elegant gentleman” ahead of his state visit to the UK.
The King will host the US President and First Lady Melania for two days.
ReutersU.S. President Donald Trump walks to board Air Force One as he departs for a state visit to Britain[/caption]
PAUS President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will meet King Charles and Queen Camilla during their state visit this week (pictured here in 2019)[/caption]
EPAThe US president leaves the White House for a three-day state visit to the UK[/caption]
Mr Trump will enjoy a royal flypast, a carriage ride with Princess Kate and a grand state banquet amongst other meetings during his three-day tour.
Speaking at the White House before departing, Mr Trump added how it is “the first time it has ever happened where somebody was honoured twice” with a state visit.
He says his visit is “primarily” to meet the King and Queen, adding: “They’re friends of mine for a long time, long before he was King, and it’s an honour to have him as King.
“I think he represents the country so well, I’ve watched, he’s such an elegant gentleman.”
Mr Trump has now boarded Air Force One with first lady Melania Trump and will arrive tonight.
The US president also praised Sir Keir Starmer ahead of the visit, saying he represents the UK “so well”.
Mr Trump and his wife Melania Trump are expected to land on tonight and be greeted on behalf of the king by US Ambassador Warren Stephens.
Typically, US presidents in their second term – like Mr Trump – are not offered full state visits, but rather tea or lunch with the monarch, as was the case with George W Bush and Barack Obama.
However, the 79-year-old is bucking the trend and will make his second full state visit starting today, which will last until Friday, September 18.
It follows his first in June 2019, where he met the late Queen Elizabeth II and stayed at Winfield House.
They will remain within the private Windsor Castle’s estate overnight and there are not expected to be any public-facing elements that evening.
Windsor is being used while refurbishment works continue at Buckingham Palace.
On Wednesday morning, the Prince and Princess of Wales will greet the president and his wife on the Windsor grounds before accompanying them to meet the King and Queen for an open-air greeting.
Here, Mr and Mrs Trump will then take part in a carriage procession through the estate to the castle, alongside the four royals.
The carriage ride will be joined by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, which will provide a Sovereign’s Escort, as well as members of the armed forces and three military bands.
However, unlike French President Emmanuel Macron, who enjoyed a carriage ride through the town on his state visit in July, Mr Trump’s procession will only run to the castle.
He also will not experience the same trip Mr Macron took to see the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey in London.
After the procession on Wednesday, a ceremonial guard of honour will be staged in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle, as is customary, before the Trumps enjoy a lunch with the royal family.
They will also see a Royal Collection exhibition within the castle during this time.
GettyMr Trump will meet William on his trip to the UK, having also met him last December in Paris[/caption]
SplashThe president will also enjoy a carriage ride alongside Princess Kate, Prince William, and the king and queen during his three-day visit[/caption]
n.cArmed police are also being deployed in order to assist with security in Windsor, alongside the fencing[/caption]
Then, in a private ceremony on Wednesday afternoon, Mr and Mrs Trump will visit St George’s Chapel privately in order to lay a wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II.
After this, they will be treated to a flypast by the Red Arrows alongside UK and US F-35 military jets on the east lawn at Windsor Castle.
There will also be a special Beating Retreat military ceremony – never before deployed for a state visit.
Rounding off the busy day, the Trumps will enjoy a traditional grand state banquet and ceremonial welcome in the castle’s St George’s Hall.
Both the king and Mr Trump will give speeches as the event gets underway, before retiring to slumber.
On Thursday morning, the Trumps will formally bid farewell to Charles and Camilla at Windsor Castle, with Mr Trump heading to Chequers, the prime minister’s official country residence in Buckinghamshire.
There, he will meet Sir Keir Starmer and his wife and be greeted with a guard of honour from RAF Halton and bagpipers.
The two leaders will then view the Sir Winston Churchill archives held at Chequers, before holding a bilateral meeting.
They are then expected to join a business reception with the chancellor, with a press conference understood to follow this.
But while Mr Trump meets the PM, Mrs Trump will view the Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and the Royal Library at Windsor Castle, before joining Kate at Frogmore Gardens for a meeting with Chief Scout Dwayne Fields and members of the Scouts’ Squirrels programme.
The first lady will then later travel to Chequers to join her husband as the last pieces of the state visit take place.
Timeline of Trump’s State Visit
Tuesday, September 16:
Donald Trump is due to arrive in the evening and will be met by US Ambassador Warren Stephens and the Viscount Hood, Lord-in-Waiting on behalf of the King.
Wednesday, September 17:
The president and first lady will be met by the Prince and Princess of Wales who will accompany them to meet the King and Queen at Windsor Castle.
All six will then take part in a carriage procession through Windsor estate joined by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, as well as members of the armed forces and military bands.
A ceremonial welcome will be held before lunch with the royal family.
In the afternoon the president and first lady will privately lay a wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Red Arrows will conduct a flypast before a traditional grand state banquet in the evening where both the King and President are expected to give speeches.
Thursday, September 18:
President Trump will travel to the prime minister’s official country residence in Buckinghamshire where he will meet Sir Keir Starmer and his wife.
The president and prime minister will view the Sir Winston Churchill archives before a bilateral meeting and business reception with the chancellor.
A press conference is expected to follow.
Melania Trump will stay at Windsor Castle for much of the day touring with the Queen and then join the Princess of Wales at Frogmore Gardens for a meeting with the Chief Scout before reuniting with her husband to fly back to the US.
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