Donald Trump has confirmed that King Charles's state visit to the US is proceeding, stating the monarch will visit him 'very shortly'. The US president expressed his anticipation for the meeting, despite calls for the historic royal trip to be postponed due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The visit, which has not been officially announced, is expected to see the King and Queen travel to Washington and New York in April to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. Senior Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry suggested it would be 'safer to delay' the visit because of the Iran war, warning the royals could feel 'embarrassed' by the current crisis.
Trump, who hosted Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin on St Patrick's Day, told reporters he looks forward to seeing the King. He criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's response to US calls for support over the war, calling it a 'big mistake' and suggesting his trade efforts were not appreciated.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch backed the visit, saying the King represents 'standards which both Sir Keir and Mr Trump could actually learn from'. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage argued the tensions make the visit 'even more imperative'. Downing Street declined to comment, stating it was not for the government to discuss future royal engagements.
A recent YouGov poll found 46% of Britons believe the King should cancel the visit, while 36% said it should go ahead. Buckingham Palace said state visits are a matter for the government, undertaken on Foreign Office advice.
