On Thursday, President Donald Trump accepted an invitation from King Charles to visit Great Britain for a state visit.
The hand-written letter from the monarch was delivered by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he arrived at the White House on Thursday. Starmer called what would be Trump’s second state visit to the country “really special” and “unprecedented.”
“I am honored by this invitation and look forward to strengthening the special relationship between our nations.” He also praised King Charles, describing him as “a wonderful leader and friend.”
During his first term, Trump was welcomed by Queen Elizabeth II for a three-day state visit in June 2019, where he attended a lavish state banquet, had a private lunch with the Queen, and met Prince Charles, then heir to the throne, for tea.
That visit placed Trump in an exclusive group of U.S. presidents—only Barack Obama and George W. Bush were granted official state visits to Britain during Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign.
Trump’s 2019 state visit was the last of more than 110 such events hosted by Queen Elizabeth II before her death in September 2022. That visit sparked controversy as he was widely seen as breaking royal protocol, failing to bow to the Queen and walking in front of her while inspecting a military guard.