US President Donald Trump (2R), US First Lady Melania Trump (R), Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (2L), and his wife Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, pose for a photograph ahead of a dinner at Winfield House, the residence of the US Ambassador, where US President Trump is staying whilst in London, on June 4, 2019, on the second day of the US President's three-day State Visit to the UK. US President Donald Trump turns from pomp and ceremony to politics and business on Tuesday as he meets Prime Minister Theresa May on the second day of a state visit expected to be accompanied by mass protests. (Photo by Chris Jackson / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to reunite with British royals

"This is unprecedented," the British prime minister said

Contributor

FEBRUARY 27, 2025 6:10 PM ESTFEB 27, 2025, 6:10 PM EST

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have accepted an invitation from King Charles for an "unprecedented" state visit to the United Kingdom. The invitation was in a letter delivered to the president by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his visit to the White House on Thursday. "This is really special. This has never happened before. This is unprecedented," the prime minister said.

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 27: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) presents a letter from King Charles III to U.S. President Donald Trump as the two meet in the Oval Office at the White House on February 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. Starmer is on his first visit to Washington since President Trump returned to the White House. Starmer's trip comes shortly after he announced an increase in UK defense spending, ostensibly as a signal to Trump that the UK is prepared to bolster Europe's security, and as he aims to broker a fair peace deal for Ukraine amid Trump's warming relations with Russia. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

"I think that just symbolizes the strength of the relationship between us. This is a very special letter. I think the last state visit was a tremendous success," the prime minister added. "His Majesty the King wants to make this even better than that, so this is truly historic. An unprecedented second state visit."

PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND - JUNE 05: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and US President Donald Trump attend a function during the D-day 75 Commemorations on June 05, 2019 in Portsmouth, England. The political heads of 16 countries involved in World War II joined Her Majesty, The Queen on the UK south coast for a service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Overnight it was announced that all 16 had signed an historic proclamation of peace to ensure the horrors of the Second World War are never repeated. The text has been agreed by Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell - WPA Pool /Getty Images)

Asked by the prime minister for his answer, the president said, "The answer is yes, on behalf our wonderful First Lady Melania and myself, the answer is yes and we look forward to being there and honoring the King and honoring really your country. Your country is a fantastic country and it will be our honor to be there."

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The president revealed that the King's letter said Windsor Castle. The Times reported back in November that there would be "no more state visits held at Buckingham Palace for the next three years, as it undergoes one of the biggest upheavals in its history," and instead "all state visits" would "take place at Windsor Castle until 2027."

President Trump described His Majesty as a "beautiful" and "wonderful man" on Thursday. He said, "[I’ve] gotten to know him very well actually, first term and now, a second term."

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 03: (L-R) U.S. President Donald Trump, Queen Elizabeth II, First Lady Melania Trump, Prince Charles Prince of Wales and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall attend a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace on June 3, 2019 in London, England. President Trump's three-day state visit will include lunch with the Queen, and a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, as well as business meetings with the Prime Minister and the Duke of York, before travelling to Portsmouth to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. (Photo by Jeff Gilbert - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

During his first term, the president and First Lady Melania paid a state visit to the UK at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth. The year before their state visit, the first couple met with Charles' mother at Windsor Castle. At the state banquet in 2019, Queen Elizabeth said, "I am delighted to welcome you and Mrs Trump to Buckingham Palace this evening, just twelve months after our first meeting at Windsor. Visits by American Presidents always remind us of the close and longstanding friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States, and I am so glad that we have another opportunity to demonstrate the immense importance that both our countries attach to our relationship."

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: First lady Melania Trump, US President Donald Trump and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend Tea at Clarence House on December 03, 2019 in London, England. President Trump is in the UK to attend the NATO Leaders Summit, marking the 70th anniversary of the organisation. (Photo by Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

In her memoir, Melania revealed that when she and Donald said goodbye to Queen Elizabeth, they "extended a cordial invitation for her return visit to the United States." The first lady recalled, “She expressed her gratitude with a warm smile. Sadly, Her Majesty wasn’t able to visit with us again before her death in 2022, but our friendship with the Royal Family continues, and we exchange letters with King Charles to this day."

King Charles congratulated the president on his inauguration last month. According to HOLA! USA's sister brand HELLO!, His Majesty sent a personal message of congratulations to the 47th president of the United States, which is understood to have touched on the enduring relationship between the UK and the US.