LONDON – President Donald Trump is set to receive the red carpet treatment this week in Britain, becoming the first U.S. leader to make a second state visit to the United Kingdom. The unprecedented welcome combines royal pageantry with high-stakes diplomacy, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer looks to strengthen ties with Washington on trade, technology, and global security.
Trump’s itinerary reads like a scene from royal history: a carriage procession with King Charles III, a Beating Retreat ceremony, and a military flyover, all culminating in a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle. The spectacle is designed to flatter Trump, who has long expressed admiration for the British monarchy and its traditions — a fascination linked partly to his Scottish heritage.
Starmer Courts Trump on Trade and Ukraine
For Starmer, the visit represents more than pomp. The British leader has openly courted Trump since his return to power, going so far as to hand-deliver a letter from King Charles at the Oval Office earlier this year.
Talks at the prime minister’s Chequers country residence on Thursday are expected to focus on trade agreements, tariffs, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. U.S. officials said the two sides will sign technology deals worth at least $10 billion, with executives from Nvidia and OpenAI tipped to join Trump’s delegation.
Britain hopes to secure a landmark trade deal, placing it ahead of other European nations in Trump’s economic strategy and potentially shielding the UK from sweeping tariffs. Ukraine will also dominate discussions, with Trump reportedly urging Britain and other NATO members to impose 100% tariffs on China to pressure Beijing into halting its support for Russia.
Royal Pomp With Political Undertones
The royal family is playing a central role in setting the stage. Prince William and Princess Catherine will welcome Trump and First Lady Melania on Wednesday, before the king and queen host the procession and banquet. Trump will also make a private pilgrimage to the grave of Queen Elizabeth II, who died in 2022, underscoring the symbolic weight of his return.
First Lady Melania Trump will take part in her own engagements, including a tour of the Queen Mary Dolls’ House with Queen Camilla and a scouting event alongside Princess Catherine, who has recently returned to public duties following cancer treatment.
Security and Protests
Despite the grandeur, Trump will be kept away from London’s streets, where protesters are planning large demonstrations. All official events will take place outside the capital, with Windsor and Chequers serving as the central venues.
Behind the scenes, tensions are expected to simmer. Trump is likely to raise concerns over free speech in the UK, echoing themes voiced recently by his ally Elon Musk at a far-right rally in Britain. Meanwhile, the shadow of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal looms, following the resignation of Britain’s ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, over his ties to the disgraced financier.
A Visit With High Stakes
Trump last enjoyed a state visit in 2019 under Queen Elizabeth II, an event he often recalls with pride. But this second invitation carries even higher stakes for Britain, which continues to market its “special relationship” with Washington as a diplomatic asset.
For Trump, it offers another moment to bask in the grandeur of monarchy and project influence abroad, while Starmer aims to translate ceremonial spectacle into concrete gains on trade and global security.
