King Charles to host Donald Trump in September state visit to UK

Prime Minister Kier Starmer presented the invitation to President Trump during a meeting in February

US President Donald Trump has formally accepted an invitation from King Charles to come to the UK for a state visit for a second time.

Mr Trump's first state visit was back in 2019, hosted by Queen Elizabeth during his first term in office.

This time the president and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, will come to the UK from 17 to 19 September for the event, which will be held at Windsor Castle.

Buckingham Palace, which is where the Royal Family normally hosts guests, is currently undergoing renovations.

To be invited for a state visit twice is something that hasn't happened to a US president before.

This kind of visit is a big deal and includes a full ceremonial welcome and a state banquet.

Second-term presidents are normally invited for tea or lunch with the monarch, which is a less formal occasion.

All senior members of the Royal Family are expected to be there, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children George, Charlotte and Louis, who live on the grounds of the castle.

King Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales, spent time with the US President on his last state visit to the UK in 2019

French President Emmanuel Macron was hosted by the King at Windsor last week. This was the first time a state visit had been held in the family's home in Berkshire for more than ten years.

Speaking in April, President Trump said: "I'm a friend of Charles, I have great respect for King Charles and the family, William. We have really just a great respect for the family."

Prime Minister Sir Keir formally presented the invitation from the King to Mr Trump for the second state visit during a meeting in the Oval Office in February.

Experts have said part of the reason President Trump has been invited again is because the UK government are hoping it will help build a stronger relationship with the US.

This could mean he would be more likely to listen to the UK's concerns about the war in Ukraine and lessen the tariffs placed on British exports to the US.