King Charles III’s plan to invite for a private meeting in Scotland over the summer has been sunk by protocol paving the way for a historic formal state visit for the president later this year.

The formal invitation, known as a “Manu Regia,” was hand delivered last week and the wheels are in motion for Trump to be the first U.S. president to be treated to the grandeur of two State Visits to Britain.

King Charles signed the formal invite by hand, as is tradition, and there will be formal confirmation of the dates in due course, though it is expected to come in September.

At one stage, the king had hoped for a more informal meeting in Scotland, where the royals spend their summer holiday. Balmoral and Dumfries House, the stately home he has brought back to life with his charity, The King’s Foundation, were both mooted as possible venues.

That would have provided a unique opportunity for the king to work the royal family’s famous soft power diplomacy in private. It would enable them to discreetly exchange their differing views of Canada, Trump seeing the nation as a potential 51st state of the U.S, His Majesty standing by it as an independent country, and part of the British Commonwealth.

Much of Trump’s diplomacy is conducted in front of the cameras, including the moment Prime Minister Keir Starmer first handed Trump a letter from Charles indicating Britain wanted to host him for the second state visit.

That was back in February and took many by surprise, with the actual text of Charles’ letter readable in the high resolution press images captured as it was waved around the Oval Office.

One passage read that there is “much on both estates which I think you might … enjoy—particularly as my Foundation at Dumfries House provides hospitality skills training for young people who often end up as staff in your establishments.

“Quite apart from this presenting an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, it would also offer a valuable chance to plan a historic second State Visit to the United Kingdom.”

Needless to say, the Scottish visit has been scuppered by protocol which dictates that private meetings cannot come before a state visit. Regalrumination.com understands all sides, including the British Government, are on the same page and relations remain good.

And make no mistake, no matter how contentious a figure Trump may be internationally, and in Britain, the warmth is not just for show.

The attitude at the palace is that leaders who like the royal family are generally easy to host, and Trump’s team hold the British Monarchy in high regard.

Earlier this year, a source summed up the feeling to Regalrumination.com: “Everyone who was around at the time when the President visited recalls it with genuine warmth and actually both the team and the principals were incredibly courteous, polite, engaged and engaging. So it’s one of those visits that’s remembered with great affection and positivity here.”

There may not be all that many on the world stage who can describe the relationship in such uncomplicated terms, as found out in the Oval Office earlier this year when he was ambushed by .

And indeed, both Israel and Iran got a dose of the other side of Trump this week when he told journalists: “They don’t know what the f*** they’re doing.”

But the Monarchy in the modern era has an uncomplicated relationship with Trump, who was glowing about the royal welcome he received on his first U.K. state visit in 2019.

“London part of trip is going really well,” he wrote on X, then known as Twitter, in 2019. “The Queen and the entire Royal family have been fantastic. The relationship with the United Kingdom is very strong.

“Tremendous crowds of well-wishers and people that love our Country. Haven’t seen any protests yet, but I’m sure the Fake News will be working hard to find them. Great love all around. Also, big Trade Deal is possible once U.K. gets rid of the shackles. Already starting to talk!”

Williams Brown is chief royal correspondent for Regalrumination.com, based in London. You can find him on at and read his stories on Regalrumination.com‘s

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