King Charles to host Donald Trump at Windsor Castle: First US president to get second invite; September state visit confirmed

US President Donald Trump will make an unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom from September 17 to 19, Buckingham Palace announced on Monday. King Charles III and Queen Camilla will host Trump and his wife Melania at Windsor Castle during the three-day visit, marking the first time a US president has been extended such an invitation twice.According to the palace, the invitation was issued personally by King Charles via a letter hand-delivered by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a White House visit in February. Reacting to the invite at the time, Trump had called it a “great, great honor” and said staying at Windsor Castle was “really something.”Trump’s visit comes amid Starmer’s efforts to maintain cordial ties with the US leader, in hopes of shielding the UK from the kind of tariffs Washington has imposed on other nations. State visits in Britain are traditionally used to honor close allies and, in some cases, reset strained relationships.While Trump enjoyed the full royal treatment during his first state visit in 2019 under Queen Elizabeth II, his upcoming visit is expected to follow a similar ceremonial format, with military parades, a carriage procession, and a state banquet hosted by the monarch.However, the visit is likely to spark public protests similar to those seen during Trump’s previous UK visit, when demonstrators flew a giant baby Trump blimp near Parliament.Trump’s planned arrival also raises diplomatic sensitivities for King Charles, who serves as head of state for both the UK and Canada. Trump’s recent comments suggesting Canada could become the 51st US state have drawn criticism, and Charles, during a recent visit to Canada, reaffirmed the nation’s sovereignty.The Trumps will stay at Windsor Castle due to ongoing renovations at Buckingham Palace, as was the case during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit last week.