Prince Charles and Camilla to host Trump for tea at Clarence House during his official visit to Britain in June
In a new turn of events, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker Bowles are gearing up to host US President Donald Trump during his state visit to Britain in June. The unexpected meeting is scheduled to take place at Clarence House, the heir to the throne's official residence in London.
Trump's meeting with the Prince of Wales will come on the same day as the Queen’s official state banquet for the POTUS, which Charles is also expected to attend. Trump had not been able to meet Charles on his working visit to Britain last year, which included a meeting with the Queen at Windsor Castle amid massive protests in the capital.
At the time, multiple reports suggested that Charles, along with his sons Prince William and Harry, had refused to have anything to do with the arrangements, which was seen as a royal snub by the Americans. There were also claims, although it was widely refuted, that a future state visit was in jeopardy because Trump feared being lectured by Charles over issues such as climate change.
This will be the first time that Charles will be hosting a US president in a personal capacity, which is a clear indication of the Prince's growing role in the light of the Queen's advanced age. The move also suggests that Charles has put his personal feelings aside in the interests of the country, as he promised he would in one of his interviews last year.
It has further emerged that the future king of Britain will be playing a "full and prominent" role in Trump's high-profile, three-day visit, which starts on June 3. One source said to Daily Mail: "This is high statecraft and the Prince is uniquely capable of hosting a visiting head of state."
Charles will be joined at the state banquet on June 3 by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be joining the rest of the members in the wake of the royal couple recently welcoming their first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, into the world.
It is further being reported that the Trumps will not be staying at Buckingham Palace, unlike the Obamas in 2011, because of a $470 million (£369million) program of renovations at the Palace, which has closed off the entire east wing where President Trump's retinue would have been housed.
Sources also stressed that all the normal elements expected of a state visit will take place at Buckingham Palace. This will include a lunch with the Queen and other senior royals, a glittering state banquet, the official exchanging of gifts and a viewing of a display of Anglo-US historical artifacts.
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