US President Donald Trump arrives in the UK late Tuesday for a state visit with his wife, Melania — a rare privilege made at the invitation of King Charles III.
These pomp-filled visits are organised at the recommendation of the British government to strengthen diplomatic, trade or personal relations with certain countries and their leaders.
Trump is the first president ever to be invited for a second state visit, having been hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019, during his first White House term.
The visits begin with a grand welcome by the king and his wife, Queen Camilla, and generally follow a similar script, including a carriage ride, an inspection of a guard of honour, and a private lunch hosted by the monarch.
The showpiece event is a grand state dinner with approximately 150 guests, chosen for their cultural, diplomatic or economic ties with the host country.
Foreign leaders generally also pay their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey in London and also address parliament, as French President Emmanuel Macron did in July.
However, lawmakers will not be sitting during Trump’s trip due to a recess for the annual party conferences, prompting speculation that the centre-left Labour government deliberately timed the visit to avoid a potentially tricky parliamentary address.
Trump’s 2019 state visit drew huge protests in Parliament Square, with demonstrations again planned for this trip.
As King Charles Hosts Trump, What Do UK State Visits Entail?
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