Trump making unprecedented second state visit to UK: Buckingham Palace

President Trump will make an unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom from Sept. 17 to 19, Buckingham Palace announced Monday.

Trump formally accepted King Charles III’s invitation, according to the palace, and will visit Windsor Castle along with first lady Melania Trump.

Trump is a rare head of state accorded a second state visit. He first enjoyed the pomp and pageantry during his state visit in 2019, when he was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.

Other U.S. presidents have traveled to the U.K. after a state visit for lunch or tea with the monarch, but none were invited for a second state visit.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer presented the president with the formal invitation during his White House visit in February. While the king formally extends the invitation, he does so at the request of the government.

At the time, Trump called it a “great, great honor” and appeared pleased to be staying at Windsor Castle, The Associated Press noted.

“That’s really something,” he said at the time.

The second state visit comes as Starmer seeks to maintain friendly ties with the U.S. His approach seems to have benefited the U.K., which is one of the only nations to have struck a trade deal to avoid some of Trump’s steepest tariffs on U.S. trading partners.

“The United States’ friendship with the United Kingdom is one of our country’s oldest and most treasured alliances – which recently resulted in a historic trade deal that expanded market access for American farmers,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to The Hill.

“President Trump was thrilled to receive the King’s invitation for an unprecedented second state visit, and he looks forward to continuing to foster this special relationship between our two nations,” she continued.

Updated at 1:33 p.m. EDT