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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Athena Stavrou

Kate and Melania to meet Scouts during Trump state visit to UK

The Princess of Wales is set to join Melania Trump to meet the Scouts during the first lady’s visit to the UK.

Buckingham Palace has now released the itinerary for the US president’s “unprecedented” second state visit next week.

Donald and Melania Trump are set to be hosted by the King, with events including a glitzy state banquet planned for the three-day trip.

Kate, along with other members of the royal family, will play a key role in the visit, as she is set to spend a day with Melania.

On the final day of her visit, Melania will join Kate at Frogmore Gardens for a meeting with chief scout Dwayne Fields.

Camilla, Charles, Donald and Melania Trump on the president’s first state visit, London, 2019 (Chris Jackson/PA)

The pair will also meet members of the Scouts’ Squirrels programme as they learn about nature to achieve their Go Wild badge.

Kate has been the joint president of the Scout Association since 2020.

William and Kate have also been tasked with the initial royal meeting with the president and first lady on the morning of 17 September in the grounds of the Windsor estate, when they will accompany them to meet the King and Queen for an open-air greeting.

The Trumps, the King, Camilla, William and Kate will then take part in a carriage procession through the estate to the castle.

On the final day of her visit, Melania Trump will join Kate for a meeting with chief scout Dwayne Fields (Getty)

The royal family has played a key part in facilitating the UK’s “special relationship” with the US and Mr Trump during his second term.

The US president is well known for his love of the monarchy, having boasted he had “automatic chemistry” with the late Queen, and hailed King Charles as a “really wonderful guy”.

Mr Trump appeared taken with heir to the throne William after they met in Paris in December, declaring that the prince was “very handsome” and adding “some people look better in person”.

It is likely that William and Kate will attend the opulent state banquet for Mr Trump on Wednesday evening in St George’s Hall at the castle.

Trump appeared taken with heir to the throne William after they met in Paris in December (Aaron Chown/PA)

Mr Trump has already been feted with a grand state visit to the UK, hosted by the late Queen in 2019.

The precedent for second-term US presidents who have already made a state visit is usually tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle, as was the case for George W Bush and Barack Obama.

The visit has, however, been moved slightly due to his busy diary. It was originally due to span 17 September to 19 September, but now Mr Trump, who is arriving on 16 September, will leave on 18 September following a day at Chequers with the prime minister.

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