Donald Trump could become the first elected politician in modern history to be hosted for two state visits to the UK.
Downing Street and the Foreign Office are said to be preparing another state visit invite to Trump after his election win once he takes office in January, the Telegraph reported.
The visit is said to be part of a strategy by the Sir Keir Starmer’s government to use Trump’s admiration for the monarchy to forge a close personal relationship between him and the Republican president-elect.
A senior Whitehall source told the paper: “[Mr Trump] loves the Royal Family. Look at the fact he’s had his own photo album made of the last visit. Why wouldn’t we want a repeat?”
Sources told the paper that no detailed discussions on the timing of the visit had yet been had.
However it would likely be in 2026, because of King Charles’ schedule if it were to go ahead.
It is unprecedented in modern times for an elected leader to be invited on a state visit to the UK twice, although sovereigns of other countries have been invited more than once.
These include Queen Margrethe of Denmark, who was given a state visit to the UK in 1974 and 2000 and King Olav of Norway, who visited in 1963 and again in 1988.
Trump received a grand state visit to the UK in 2019, hosted by the late Queen, with commentators saying at the time it was unlikely he would be invited to make a second one.
The royal family plays a key part in the UK-US special relationship and Trump has previously voiced his love of the monarchy.
In a clip released earlier this year, the 78-year-old praised King Charles as a “really good person”.
The footage was released as part of former Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s docu-series Art of The Surge, and was filmed between Trump’s campaign rallies.
Pointing to an image of him and his wife Melania alongside the late Queen in the clip, he said: “This is with Queen Elizabeth, who was fantastic, by the way.”
“These images - I mean, who has images like this? And these were relationships, too.”
He then pointed to an image of him and his wife Melania with Charles and Camilla.
“It’s a piece of history at the highest level,” he added.
“Hopefully he’s going to be well, because he’s a really good person. Camilla is fantastic. You get to know them so well.”
