President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, are set to arrive in Britain on Tuesday night for a two-day state visit, hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
What is a state visit?
In Britain, state visits are hosted by the monarch, and are a moment when the country rolls out the red carpet for visiting foreign royalty, presidents or prime ministers, showcasing the pomp, pageantry and ceremony for which the country is known.
Designed to strengthen Britain’s ties with other nations, the program usually includes a glittering banquet in a royal palace and a procession in a horse-drawn carriage.
State visits are arranged at the invitation of the sovereign, acting on government advice. They do not take place between Britain and the 14 countries, including Australia and Canada, that are members of the Commonwealth and share the king as head of state.
Mr. Trump and the first lady can expect all the finery and flourishes of a stay with the royal family. The carriage procession through the Windsor estate will be escorted by mounted soldiers from the Household Cavalry. At a white-tie state banquet on Wednesday evening, attended by around 150 guests, the king will make a speech and propose a toast to the president, who will reply and propose a toast in return.
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The post What to Know About President Trump’s Second State Visit to the U.K. appeared first on New York Times.