By Joke Kujenya
STATE VISIT plans have been announced as United States (U.S.) President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump prepare to welcome King Charles III of the United Kingdom (UK) of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Queen Camilla to Washington DC from Monday April 27 through Thursday April 30, 2026.
Contained in a statement issued by the White House media, JKNewsMedia.com reports that the occasion marks the first official State Visit of the second term of the Trump Administration.
First Lady Melania led preparations for the visit, which will honour the longstanding and special relationship between the U.S. and the UK as the American people mark 250 years of independence.
On the afternoon of April 27, the President and First Lady will greet Their Majesties at the South Portico of the White House before proceeding to the State Floor for tea in the Green Room.
After tea, the couples will tour the newly unveiled and expanded White House Beehive located on the South Lawn near the White House Kitchen Garden, before departing the grounds.
On the morning of April 28, a State Arrival Ceremony will take place on the South Lawn.
The ceremony will include Military Honors rendered by the United States Army Herald Trumpets, with national anthems performed by The President’s Own United States Marine Band and a 21 gun salute by the Presidential Salute Battery.
Following an Inspection of the Troops and a Troop in Review facilitated by the US Army Fife and Drum Corps, the President will deliver remarks.
The President, First Lady, and Their Majesties will then proceed to the Blue Room Balcony for a Pass in Review of 300 United States Service Members, with nearly 500 members of the US Armed Forces from all six military branches present, described as a historic first for State Visits.
Thousands of guests are expected on the South Lawn, including Members of the President’s Cabinet, Members of Congress, official delegations from both countries, American military families, and students from the British International School of Washington.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Their Majesties will sign the White House guest book and participate in an official gift exchange in the Blue Room.
A receiving line with both delegations will follow in the Cross Hall before the President and King Charles III hold a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, while the First Lady and Queen Camilla follow a separate schedule.
JKNewsMedia.com also reports that the First Lady and Queen Camilla will join American students for a cross-cultural educational event at the White House Tennis Pavilion.
The group, including state champions from the Presidential AI Challenge, will use virtual reality headsets to learn about the United Kingdom and AI enabled glasses to explore American history and the Special Relationship through artefacts from the White House Collection and the National Archives and Records Administration.
On Tuesday evening, the President and First Lady will host a State Dinner in the East Room. Further details will be shared by the Office of the First Lady ahead of the event.
On Thursday morning April 30, the President and First Lady will bid farewell to Their Majesties at the South Portico before a final departure in the Diplomatic Reception Room.
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