Trump will meet Queen and Prince Harry, but not Meghan, during 3-day state visit to UK
After a spectacular four-day state visit to Japan, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania returned home to the White House on Tuesday.
The first couple is set to leave for the United Kingdom this weekend for their first "official" state visit where they are slated to meet with Queen Elizabeth II.
On Tuesday, Donald and Melania were seen holding hands as they disembarked from Marine One and walked across the lawn into the White House, Daily Mail reports.
While Trump waved to reporters, he did not stop to address them after the grueling 13-hour journey that included a refueling stop in Alaska.
Trump described his meeting with American servicemen and women on the USS Wasp as "amazing and unforgettable."
He became the first head of state to meet Japan's emperor Naruhito during his four-day trip.
Furthermore, he also played a round of golf—his favorite pastime—with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and was greeted with an imperial welcome ceremony.
The commander-in-chief will deliver remarks at the United States Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony on Thursday and will host a reception at the White House with his wife to honor Gold Star families the following day.
On Monday, Trump is set to commence his three-day visit to the United Kingdom, touted as his first "official" state visit to the country as his previous summer trip did not have the formal designation.
The Trumps will arrive in London on Monday to meet with several senior members of the royal family.
A state visit, by definition, includes a formal welcome ceremony followed by a high-profile white-tie dinner at Buckingham Palace.
The Queen will be joined by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall for the official ceremonial welcome at the palace's garden, instead of the usual Horse Guards Parade venue in Whitehall. The change in venue is mostly due to security concerns.
On Monday evening, the first family will be invited to a luxurious white-tie dinner staged in the palace's ballroom, where prominent personalities from UK national life will be present.
That said, the Buckingham Palace has released the complete itinerary for Trump's highly-anticipated state visit to the UK.
Following the official welcoming ceremony, the first family will be served a private lunch with the Queen and Prince Harry.
However, American actress Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, will reportedly avoid an awkward encounter with the U.S. leader after she emphatically campaigned against him during the 2016 election.
President Trump and his wife will then be invited by her majesty to view a special exhibition in the Picture Gallery. This will showcase priceless items from the Royal Collection bearing historical significance to the United States.
The first couple will then visit Westminster Abbey accompanied by Prince Andrew. The president will lay a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior before going on a short tour of the historic Abbey.
On Tuesday, Trump and PM Theresa May will co-host a business breakfast meeting in the presence of the Duke of York and a number of senior business leaders at St James's Palace. Trump's state visit comes just days after May announced her resignation amid the ongoing Brexit crisis.
The leaders will hold a joint press conference following lunch.
That evening, the Trumps will host a return dinner at Winfield House—the residence of the Ambassador of the United States—to be attended by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall on behalf of the Queen.
On Wednesday, the last day of the state visit, the Queen will join President Trump and Melania to attend the National Commemorative Event for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings at Southsea Common, Portsmouth. The ceremony will be hosted in the presence of more than 300 D-Day veterans.
According to reports, Trump will be accompanied on this visit by his children Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, along with Don Jr, Eric, and their wives Lara and Tiffany Trump respectively. However, Trump's 13-year-old child Barron will not be joining him for the trip.
"President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump accepted the invitation from Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to visit the United Kingdom from June 3 to 5, 2019," the White House said in a statement. "This state visit will reaffirm the steadfast and special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom."
After his visit to the UK, the U.S. leader is scheduled to attend a ceremony in Normandy, France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day before making a stop in Ireland to meet with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar as part of his European tour.