Downing Street has denied that Sir Keir Starmer overruled King Charles to bring forward a “historic” second state visit to the UK for Donald Trump.
A proposal had been mooted for the US president to make an informal trip to Britain in coming months before a full state visit later on.
But the state visit is now due to take place in September, amid claims that the Prime Minister had pushed for this timetable against the Monarch’s wishes.
No10 rejected this suggestion.
Asked whether Sir Keir had overruled the King, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ““That’s not true.”
He added: “During the visit to the White House in February, the Prime Minister was delighted to extend His Majesty the King’s invite for a historic second state visit to the President and First Lady and the President was pleased to accept.”
The Times had earlier reported that Sir Keir has gone against the wishes of the King by bringing Trump’s “bells and whistles” state visit forward to September.
The newspaper said the Palace had been hoping for a more leisurely approach building towards the state visit, amid concern over Mr Trump’s threat to make Canada the US’s 51st state.
Charles, who is King of Canada, suggested in a letter personally delivered to Trump by Sir Keir in the Oval Office in February that they might meet at Balmoral or Dumfries House Scotland first before the much grander state visit.
But it is understood that, although all options were explored, there were logistical challenges surrounding an informal visit, with complexities in both the King and Trump’s diaries meaning a private meeting was not possible over the course of the summer months.
The diary issues come despite the King heading to Scotland for his summer break each year, and Trump being expected to visit his new, second golf course in Aberdeenshire when it opens this summer.
It is said that the logistical reasons why the private meeting cannot precede the state visit are understood and appreciated by all parties.
Formal planning for the official state visit has now begun.
The Manu Regia, the hand-signed formal invitation from the monarch to Mr Trump for a second state visit, was hand-delivered last week by British representatives from the Washington embassy to the White House.
A Palace aide said: “His Majesty has known President Trump for many years and looks forward to hosting him and the First Lady later this year.”
The exact dates of Trump’s stay will be announced in due course, but September is said to be the most likely.
The politician was already feted with a grand state visit to the UK, hosted by the late Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2019.
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.
But Trump is being treated with an unprecedented second state visit for a US president, this time at Windsor.
The Times suggested Sir Keir was hoping to prioritise his attempt to curry favour with Trump and capitalise on the president’s fascination with the royal family.
A Number 10 spokesman said: “It’s a matter for the Palace.”
