Keir Starmer is facing a major row over the role of the King in diplomacy after it was confirmed the monarch will visit Donald Trump in Washington in the midst of the worst breakdown in transatlantic relations in recent history.

Buckingham Palace has finally announced the much-anticipated but highly controversial State Visit by Charles and Queen Camilla to the United States will go ahead next month.

But it comes as Trump continues to take a sledgehammer to the so-called special relationship, venting his fury at Sir Keir’s refusal to drag the UK into his troubled war with Iran.

The announcement came less than an hour after his latest tantrum, in which the president told the PM and Britain to ‘go get your own oil’ as Europe’s fuel supplies dry up and costs soar as a result of Tehran’s resistance.

He has previously thrown personal insults at the PM and belittled the UK’s military, including branding the Royal Navy’s largest ships mere ‘toys’.

The King himself today reflected on the UK’s relationship with its allies at a ‘difficult time’ as he gave a knighthood to a former head of the armed forces at Windsor Castle today.

But No10 has refused to listen to weeks of outcry for the trip marking the 250th anniversary of American independence to be delayed or called off, with a formal notice issued this morning.

Diplomats previously told the Daily Mail it is important to retain and strengthen links with the Trump administration, despite the president’s recent criticism of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, as well as to have ‘one-eye on a post-Trump future’.

The visit will take place ‘at the end of April’ and will include a glittering State Banquet at the White House thrown by Mr Trump, who has made no secret of his admiration for the British monarch and his desire for the trip to go ahead.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey accused the PM of ‘showing a staggering lack of backbone by pushing ahead with this state visit while Donald Trump treats our country with contempt’.

‘To send the King on a state visit to the US after Trump dismissed our Royal Navy as ”toys” is a humiliation, and a sign of a government too weak to stand up to bullies,’ he said.

‘What appalling thing does Trump have to do next to make the Government see sense and cancel the state visit?’

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Donald Trump and King Charles sit next to each other at the state banquet for the US President at Windsor Castle last yea

Trump declared the trip will be ‘TERRIFIC!’ and a ‘momentous occasion’ in a post on his Truth Social site, adding that there would be ‘a beautiful Banquet Dinner’ at the White House on the evening of April 28.

He also revealed the ‘historic state visit’ will take place over four days from April 27-30 – despite Buckingham Palace deciding not to release the exact dates in its own official announcement.

‘I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!,’ Mr Trump added.

State visits are undertaken on ‘the advice of His Majesty’s Government’, a fact with which the Palace began its official statement announcing the tour.

Government officials and diplomats have had to weigh up potential opposition to the visit, and the need to smooth over the so-called ‘special relationship’ between Britain and the US.

Politicians on all sides of the political spectrum have vocally opposed the trip, saying it would be tantamount to an ‘endorsement’ of Trump’s divisive foreign policies including the current conflict in Iran, which is not supported by the UK Government.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, who served as Chief of the Defence Staff from December 2021 to September last year, was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in a ceremony on Tuesday.

His meeting with the King came shortly before Buckingham Palace announced Charles’s visit.

After the ceremony, Sir Tony said: ‘He reflected on my service and I reflected on his support to the armed forces, and how grateful I am for all that he and the royal family do for us.

‘And unsurprisingly, we also talked about some of the world events of today and what’s going on.

‘We reflected on what is going on in the Middle East and the relationship that we have with our Gulf allies, and obviously the relationship that we have with our other allies, and that this is clearly a difficult time.’

The royal notice said: ‘On advice of His Majesty’s Government, and at the invitation of The President of the United States, The King and Queen will undertake a State Visit to the United States of America.

‘Their Majesties’ programme will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, marking the 250th anniversary of American Independence.’

But the Duke of Sussex will not travel to Washington DC to see his father during the King’s state visit to the US, a source close to Harry has said.

Harry, who has had a troubled relationship with the King, lives on the US west coast with his wife the Duchess of Sussex and the King’s youngest grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

The father and son last met face to face six months ago and the King last saw Archie and Lili in person nearly four years ago.

Harry is in Washington on Tuesday, where he is giving a keynote speech for the IAPP global summit on privacy, AI governance and cybersecurity law.

The duke is sharing ‘his insights on whether today’s digital world is breaking or bridging society, and the role we can play in reshaping the future’, according to IAPP.

After he leaves the US, the King, 77, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, will travel on to Bermuda for his first Royal Visit as Monarch to a British overseas territory.

It will also be the first visit by a reigning King to the island, although he will not be accompanied by Camilla on this part of the trip.

While it is not an independent country, the British Overseas Territory has its own constitution and parliament, with the UK responsible for defense and external affairs and the King represented by a Governor.

The late Queen Elizabeth II undertook four outward State Visits to the US in 1957, 1976, 1991 and 2007.

As Prince of Wales, His Majesty visited the United States 19 times, including with The then Duchess of Cornwall on their first joint official tour in 2005.

Since 1952, there have been four inward State Visits by a US president – in 2003, 2011, 2019 and most recently 2025.

Join the discussion1.6k comments

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The King will also stop off in Bermuda, the first visit by a reigning King to the island – although he will not be accompanied by Camilla on this part of the trip

Should King Charles go ahead with his state visit to the U.S.?

Yes – it’s important to maintain UK-US relations

No – not after what Trump said about the Prime Minister

Neutral – I don’t have an opinion either way

His Majesty, as Prince of Wales, previously visited Bermuda in 1970. Queen Elizabeth II’s last visit was in November 2009.

The Duchess of Gloucester was the most recent member of the Royal Family to visit Bermuda, in October 2025.

Last week, Washington’s ambassador to the UK said it would be a ‘very big mistake’ to cancel the King’s planned state visit to the US.

In a question-and-answer session following his speech to the British Chambers of Commerce conference in London on Thursday, Warren Stephens said: ‘I think that would be a very big mistake.’

He added: ‘I think he will go and I think it will be a very meaningful trip for him.’

President Trump pointed to the upcoming  visit to highlight the need for a £301million ballroom at the White House.

The president argued the development was necessary to entertain a large number of people when hosting foreign dignitaries and world leaders.

The 90,000-square foot project, which saw the East Wing torn down last October, has been the subject of a legal challenge in a bid to halt construction.

A panel reviewing the plans, which is headed by a top aide to the president, is due to hold a final vote on the scheme on April 2.