The Queen is set to join an US Ambassador for a private dinner next month. The dinner could set the scene for a potential full state visit from US President Donald Trump as early as this summer.
According to the Daily Mail, US Ambassador Woody Johnson is the one reportedly set to dine with Her Majesty next month at Winfield House, the US Ambassador’s residence in London. While it’s rare for a monarch to hold such dinner, these types of meetings typically take place at royal residences as they are of high importance.
Johnson was appointed as the US Ambassador to the UK by Trump in 2017. The dinner has the potential to pave the way for a second visit by the President.
The President visited the UK last July on a four-day work visit. During the trip, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump met the Queen at Windsor Castle. Her Majesty and the President inspected a guard of honour and then had afternoon tea.
Trump is the twelfth US President to have met with the Queen during her reign. While thousands of anti-Trump protesters took to the streets, the President said that the Queen and him “got along fantastically well” and had “good chemistry.”
Trump also met with Prime Minister Theresa May and the head of his Ayrshire golf course in Scotland during the visit.
The next potential visit by the President could be this summer. While no date has been set, planning for the full state visit is said to be underway. Post-Brexit, the visit would be a major boost to Britain.
Trump and the First Lady would stay with the Queen and attend a state banquet during the potentially week-long visit. Details are being discussed through Buckingham Palace, Downing Street and the White House. However, Buckingham Palace has yet to release any comments on the matter.
