Kate Middleton Has a Major Role in Donald Trump’s State Visit to the U.K. After Last-Minute Trip Change
The British royal family is gearing up for President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump’s visit to the U.K.
The POTUS and his wife were initially supposed to arrive in England on Sept. 17 and depart on Sept. 19th. However, a last-minute date change has the couple touching down in the U.K. on Sept. 16 and departing on the 18th.
Now, with the final plans in place, the Palace has announced the roles Prince William and the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton) will have in the Trumps’ visit.
Kate’s role in Donald and Melania Trump’s U.K. visit
The Waleses are set to welcome the president and first lady when they arrive in the country. They’ll then attend an open-air greeting and a carriage procession to Windsor Castle.
On their final day in the U.K., Melania will be at Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and the Royal Library at Windsor Castle before meeting with Princess Kate at Frogmore Gardens.
Kate will attend an engagement with Melania to meet Chief Scout Dwayne Fields and members of the Scouts’ Squirrels program. Kate has been President of the Scout Association since 2020.
Why the Trumps won’t stay at Buckingham Palace
During this trip, the U.S. president and his wife won’t be at Buckingham Palace for any events. Instead, King Charles will host them at Windsor Castle. One former royal employee shared the reason the Trumps won’t visit or stay at the London Palace.
Paul Burrell began working in the royal household when he was 18 years old and eventually became Queen Elizabeth II‘s personal footman. He later started working for then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana. After they separated, Burrell stayed on the staff as the princess’s butler and served in that position until her tragic death in 1997.
Speaking on behalf of Genting Casino, the former royal butler told Showbiz Cheat Sheet: “Buckingham Palace is in a 10-year plan to be refurbished. It’s being rewired, re-plumbed, and refurbished as it hasn’t been upgraded since the turn of the century. Work will continue to disrupt Palace life for the next three years. It is costing £369 million ($500 million) by way of an uplift to the sovereign grant to refurbish 775 rooms, and whilst that’s happening, the royal household can’t entertain on a large scale.
“The last phase, which is currently underway, is the queen’s wing, which is the south wing where her late Majesty lived with Prince Philip. The Palace is a mess, and that’s why they’re using Windsor as a backup. Buckingham Palace will be ready again to receive a state visit in 2027.”
He added, “Windsor Castle is the stage setting until 2027 for all state visits, including that of President Trump. Windsor Castle is more informal in lots of ways as the royals consider it to be a family home … It will bring back memories for Trump of meeting our late queen there on his last visit … American presidents traditionally have visited the queen’s private home at Windsor Castle.”
