The US President will meet the King, Queen and senior royals during a three-day visit, amid protests and political tensions…reports Asian Lite News
US President Donald Trump will pay tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle next week as part of his second state visit to the United Kingdom, a trip that has already attracted political controversy and public protest.
The White House confirmed that the president, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, will lay a wreath at the Queen’s tomb in St George’s Chapel before undertaking a private tour of the site. The symbolic gesture will come on the first full day of his three-day visit, which runs from 17 to 19 September.
Trump is due to meet King Charles III and Queen Camilla, along with the Prince and Princess of Wales, at Windsor, where a ceremonial welcome and state banquet are being prepared. He will also hold talks with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Chequers, the premier’s country residence in Buckinghamshire.
Starmer formally extended the invitation during a White House meeting with Trump in February, when the two leaders discussed the prospect of a post-Brexit UK-US trade deal. The invitation was made on behalf of the King, maintaining a centuries-old tradition of state diplomacy, though it is unusual for a second-term American president to receive such an honour. Historically, presidents in their second term have been received more informally by the monarch.
On 17 September, Trump will be greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales before being formally welcomed by the King and Queen in Windsor. A royal salute will be fired both at Windsor and at the Tower of London, accompanied by a flypast featuring British and American F-35 jets alongside the Red Arrows.
Following a state lunch at the castle, Trump will make his private visit to the late Queen’s tomb. That evening, he will be guest of honour at a state banquet in St George’s Hall, where both he and the King are expected to deliver formal speeches.
The event has already sparked political divisions. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey announced that he would boycott the banquet, accusing the president of failing to respond adequately to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. His absence is intended, he said, “to send a message”.
The following day, Trump will travel to Chequers, where he will be greeted by a guard of honour from RAF Halton and bagpipers. He will join Starmer and Lady Victoria Starmer for a bilateral meeting, with trade, security and climate policy expected to dominate the agenda.
Before formal talks, Trump will be given a private viewing of the Churchill archives held at Chequers, reflecting his admiration for Britain’s wartime leader. Observers expect the president to draw parallels between Churchill’s leadership and his own approach to foreign policy.
While the president engages in political discussions, Melania Trump will continue a parallel programme with senior royals. She will accompany Queen Camilla on a tour of the Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and the Royal Library at Windsor, before joining the Princess of Wales in Frogmore Gardens to meet members of the Scouts movement.
The visit has provoked opposition from campaigners. The Stop Trump coalition has called for a mass demonstration in London on 17 September, the day of the ceremonial welcome. Under the banner “Trump Not Welcome”, organisers have urged the government to withdraw the invitation, accusing the president of “denying climate science” and “siding with war criminals – in Israel, Russia and beyond”.
Previous visits by Trump to the UK have also sparked large-scale demonstrations, most notably in 2018 when a giant “Trump baby blimp” floated above Westminster. Police are preparing for renewed disruption, although security officials insist that arrangements are in place to ensure the president’s safety.
Since his accession in 2022, King Charles has hosted several high-profile state visits, including French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte earlier this year. Trump’s visit, however, is expected to be among the most scrutinised, reflecting both the long-standing importance of the Anglo-American alliance and the polarising nature of his presidency.
The wreath-laying at Queen Elizabeth’s tomb carries particular resonance. It will be the first time an American president has formally paid tribute at her final resting place since her death in September 2022. Palace officials say the moment will be private, with no press allowed inside St George’s Chapel.
For Trump, the visit represents both a diplomatic showcase and an opportunity to reinforce ties with a key ally. For Britain, it is a balancing act: upholding the ceremonial traditions of state diplomacy while managing political sensitivities at home and abroad.
As preparations intensify at Windsor, one thing is clear: the president’s presence will be as much about pageantry as politics, drawing global attention to Britain’s monarchy, its government, and its enduring yet complicated relationship with the United States.
