Oh, I’m aware of why it was arranged but Britain has needed America’s friendship and good will for many, many years - and that goodwill was forthcoming without the need for a state visit. President Kennedy & Harold MacMillan, Mrs Thatcher & President Reagan had excellent relationships that served both countries well without either being offered a state visit.
Secondly, if you look at it as an invitation by the Queen to the President of the USA and leave out the personalities (as we are rightly being urged to do) the President of the USA has had a state visit twice since 2000.
So while I understand the reason for it, I’m still not convinced it was necessary, even trying to take my personal feelings out of the equation.
And on the subject of personal feelings, I apologise if I offended anyone by my comments about President Trump.
Attendees at the banquet, I would be very surprised if it’s not all the working royals minus Meagan plus Prince & Princess Michael. I don’t think Meagan’s absence has anything at all to do with her personal feelings. Were it not for the fact she will be approximately one month post partum at the time I would have expected she would have been there.
I am pretty sure Meghan won’t attend because of maternity leave. The Queen wouldn’t force her to do it under those circumstances.
Otherwise, Meghan would probably have to attend and it would be awkward for her as she apparently despises Trump and Trump is probably aware of things she said in the past about him. So, all things considered, the timing seems to have been fortunate for her and for the Queen, who won’t have to make a difficult call about asking Meghan to attend ( and risking a diplomatic incident) or not.
Last edited: