Earlier this week on Thursday, February 27th, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer handed US President Donald Trump a letter from King Charles III containing a request described as “unprecedented.”
Starmer presented the signed document to Trump shortly after they sat down in the Oval Office, emphasizing its significance: “This is really special. This has never happened before. This is unprecedented.
“This is truly historic.”
The letter extended an invitation to Trump for a landmark second state visit to the UK. His first state visit was back in 2019 when the late Queen Elizabeth II welcomed him.
Although part of the letter is hidden by Trump’s hand in the photos, the visible text reads: “I can only say that it would be … pleasure to extend that invitation once again, in the hope that you … some stage be visiting Turnberry and a detour to a relatively near neighbour might not cause you too much inconvenience. An alternative might perhaps be for you to visit Balmoral.
“There is much on both estates which I think you might find interesting, and enjoy – particularly as my foundation at Dumfries House provides hospitality skills-training for young people who often end up as staff on your own establishments!”
The letter goes on to say that, beyond providing a platform to explore various topics of shared interest, this would be a meaningful opportunity to organize a groundbreaking second state visit to the UK.
It notes that such a visit would be unprecedented for a U.S. President, which is why the King expresses a desire to discuss different possibilities for venues and the itinerary.
He emphasizes that by working together on this, they can continue to strengthen the “special relationship between our two countries of which we are both so proud.”
The letter concludes with the King’s handwritten signature: “Yours Most Sincerely, Charles.”
Donald Trump expressed deep appreciation for the rare honor of being invited by King Charles for a state visit, making him the only modern-era elected political leader to receive such an invitation twice from a British monarch.
Clearly flattered by the gesture, Trump took a moment to compliment the King, saying, “He’s a beautiful man, a wonderful man – I’ve gotten to know him very well, actually, first term and now second term.”
Reflecting on their relationship, the 78-year-old Republican noted that they had met several times before, emphasizing their mutual patriotism: “We’ve known each other now for a little while. This is not our first meeting. He loves his country. And so, that’s our common theme. He loves his country. And I love our country.”
He also highlighted the strong historical bond between the U.S. and the U.K., calling it a partnership that has endured for centuries. Trump acknowledged other key allies like France and Australia but reiterated that the British-American relationship remains uniquely long-standing: “And we also have two countries that have gotten along for the longest period of time. Number one ally on each side. We have France, Australia, a lot of good ones – but we’ve had a long-time relationship, a long time, hundreds of years.”