DONALD Trump is set to fly to the UK this week for an unprecedented second state visit.
The US president and first lady Melania Trump will be hosted by the King and Queen at Windsor Castle after plans to host the pair in Scotland for a more informal meeting were scrapped earlier this year.
Trump, the first ever convicted felon to become US president, has already been feted with a state visit to the UK, hosted by the late queen Elizabeth in 2019. It is unusual for a US president serving a second term to be offered a second state visit.
Typically, instead, they are invited for tea or lunch with the monarch, which was the case for George W Bush and Barack Obama. Trump’s second state visit is expected to be met with mass protests outside both Windsor and London, with security measures tightened.
When is Trump expected in the UK?
The US president initially accepted an invitation from the King to visit the UK from Wednesday September 17 to Friday September 19.
However, Trump’s visit has been slightly altered due to his schedule. He will now arrive on the evening of September 16 and leave on September 18.
Keir Starmer handed Trump the invitation on behalf of the King during his visit to the White House in February.
At the time, the American leader called the invitation a “great, great honour”.
What does Trump’s schedule in the UK look like?
On Tuesday, September 16, Trump is expected to arrive in the UK in the evening and will be met on behalf of the King by US ambassador Warren Stephens.
The US president will then be taken to Windsor Castle's estate, as refurbishment works continue at Buckingham Palace, where he will stay overnight.
There will be no public-facing element. On Wednesday, Trump will then meet the Prince and Princess of Wales in the grounds at Windsor Castle before accompanying them to meet the King and Queen for an open-air greeting.
Trump, the King, Camilla, William, and Kate will then take part in a carriage procession through the estate to the castle.
The “ceremonial welcome” will also include a guard of honour along with a flypast by the Red Arrows alongside UK and US F-35 military jets.
The “special additions” have reportedly never been deployed before for a state visit and will include a traditional grand state banquet along with the more lavish ceremonial welcome.
On Thursday, Trump will leave Windsor Castle in the morning and will head to Chequers, the Prime Minister's official country residence, in Buckinghamshire.
The US president will be greeted with another guard of honour from RAF Halton and bagpipers when he meets Starmer.
Following the meeting, Trump and Starmer will join a business reception with the chancellor, and a press conference is expected to follow.
The US president will not visit Parliament during his visit.
What protests are planned for Trump's visit?
A "local protest" is expected to be held in Windsor High Street, which is near the castle, on Tuesday between 5:30pm and 7pm and has been organised by the Stop Trump Coalition group.
On Wednesday, a protest against Trump's second state visit will start at 2pm with speakers at Portland Place in London.
Demonstrators will then march to Parliament Square, where a rally will be held at 5pm, which has been again organised by the Stop Trump Coalition group.
Trump’s state visit follows after he came to Scotland in July, where he met with Starmer, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, and the First Minister John Swinney while also opening his new golf course in Aberdeenshire.
During Trump’s time in Scotland, mass protests were held in Edinburgh and Aberdeen against the US president.
