British State Visits & Tours: General Discussion, Suggestions & Musings

[muriel]

As shown on The Crown episode with Jackie Kennedy, Windsor Castle is and always has been much more impressive than Buckingham Palace. They should do state banquets there alway!

Thankfully, real life is not as depicted in The Crown!

Buckingham Palace is the main residence, and that is where visiting Heads of State are usually received. The reception at Horse Guards, followed by the procession down the Mall is very special, and just cannot be replicated at Windsor.

 

[DukeOfWashington]

Give me Windsor over Buckingham Palaxe any day of the week.

 

[doro]

With the Buckingham Palace being closed until 2027 for renovations, where the BRF will host e.g. State banquets and Diplomatic receptions?

 

[VictoriaB]

With the Buckingham Palace being closed until 2027 for renovations, where the BRF will host e.g. State banquets and Diplomatic receptions?

The State Banquets will probably all be at Windsor Castle. For the Diplomatic receptions, I would think there is the option of Windsor or, maybe, St James Palace?

 

[muriel]

The State Banquets will probably all be at Windsor Castle. For the Diplomatic receptions, I would think there is the option of Windsor or, maybe, St James Palace?

I think the Diplomatic Receptions will also be held at Windsor. I don't think SJP will have the capacity to accommodate the numbers needed for a Diplomatic Reception.

 

[tommy100]

Windsor for State Visits, many were hosted there in the late Queen’s reign so it is nothing new and the blueprint is already in place for how to conduct them from there.

 

[maria-olivia]

Are State Visits to the UK planned in 2025 ?

 

[tommy100]

I think I read Charles will be going to Italy and the Vatican and another country next year. No news on incoming State Visits but the state visit from Qatar was only announced in Nov and took place in Dec.

 

[maria-olivia]

Are State Visits planned for 2025 ?

 

[tommy100]

yes, but no details yet. A number say outgoing will include Italy and Vatican.

 

[muriel]

Are State Visits planned for 2025 ?

Typically, there are 2 outgoing state visits, and two incoming ones each year. So I suspect that is the pattern that will be followed this year. Details are rarely released until much closer to each trip, but it has been suggested that a trip to Italy and the Vatican will take place in the spring. I suspect there will be a trip to Canada as well this year, so those may be the two big outgoing trips for 2025.

 

[tommy100]

King Charles to meet Pope Francis and visit Vatican on Italian trip

King Charles in set to mark Italy's jubilee celebrations by visiting Pope Francis in Rome this Spring in what will be their first meeting since Charles became the monarch.

www.dailymail.co.uk

King Charles is set to meet Pope Francis for the first time as monarch when he travels to Italy with Queen Camilla for the Royal's first major tour of the year.

The historic meeting will see Charles hold a private audience with the Pope during the Rome leg of their Spring trip.

With Italy marking its jubilee year, the visit of King Charles will signify a major sign of intent on the monarch's behalf.

 

[Marengo]

What jubilee year will Italy celebrate?

An obvious European visit after France and Germany. Let's hope Spain will be next.

 

[Linda_26]

What jubilee year will Italy celebrate?

Of course, it's the Catholic church, not Italy itself.
As I imagine it's rather well known, 2025 is an ordinary Jubilee year in the Catholic Church, which happens every 25 years (the last one was in 2000, there was an extraordinary one in 2015). The Jubilee began on Christmas Eve 2024 and will end on 6 January 2026.

 

[Somebody]

Typically, there are 2 outgoing state visits, and two incoming ones each year. So I suspect that is the pattern that will be followed this year. Details are rarely released until much closer to each trip, but it has been suggested that a trip to Italy and the Vatican will take place in the spring. I suspect there will be a trip to Canada as well this year, so those may be the two big outgoing trips for 2025.

However, a trip to Canada does not constitute a state visit but 'just' a visit to one of his realms.

Interestingly, this morning Charles was referenced as 'the king of England' in an example given during the sermon in church - instead of as 'the king' or 'the king of Canada'.

 

[doro]

He should just make a state visit from Commonwealth states, e.g. NZ, Canada, etc., later state visit from monarchies

 

[tommy100]

If it were left to Charles (or any sovereign) that may well be the case. But the UK Government decides State Visits and the UK government places more importance upon European relations than Commonwealth relations it seems.

I wonder if all that is going on in Canada atm doesn't rather rule out a visit for now at least? An outgoing PM, an election and an incoming US president who wants to make Canada the 51st state (the UK government already has tensions with the President-Elect so can ill afford to irk him further by sending Charles over to strengthen the image of an independent Canada)

Really IMO if it were possible the UK sovereign should make one Commonwealth visit (two would be even better) and two State Visits on behalf of the UK. But that is just wishful thinking.

 

[Iluvbertie]

He should just make a state visit from Commonwealth states, e.g. NZ, Canada, etc., later state visit from monarchies

How can he make a 'state visit' to a Commonwealth realm? He is the Head of State of both and State Visits are between Heads of State so he can't make a State Visit to himself.

He should visit all of his realms before he visits any other countries as he is as much the Head of State of these countries as he is of the UK. Other countries aren't the same.

I would also love to see him make State Visits to the other countries of the Commonwealth such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well as the Commonwealth countries in Africa.

 

[muriel]

However, a trip to Canada does not constitute a state visit but 'just' a visit to one of his realms.

That is correct, any trip to Canada would not be a state visit, Charles cannot conduct a state visit to a country he is head of state of.

 

[muriel]

I wonder if all that is going on in Canada atm doesn't rather rule out a visit for now at least? An outgoing PM, an election and an incoming US president who wants to make Canada the 51st state (the UK government already has tensions with the President-Elect so can ill afford to irk him further by sending Charles over to strengthen the image of an independent Canada)

Any trip to Canada will now need to wait till a more stable government is in place.

The next trip to Canada is unlikely to include a trip to the US, but I suspect when the time is right the visit will go ahead, irrespective of what Trump has to say.

 

[muriel]

I would also love to see him make State Visits to the other countries of the Commonwealth such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well as the Commonwealth countries in Africa.

The King and Queen have been many times to the sub-Continent in the last 20 years, especially India. W&C have visited Pakistan in 2019. More trips to the region will, no doubt, follow, but for now the priority for overseas visits has to be a combination of a) the diplomatic and economic agenda of the UK government and b) visiting the key realms

 

[wbenson]

(the UK government already has tensions with the President-Elect so can ill afford to irk him further by sending Charles over to strengthen the image of an independent Canada)

The UK government wouldn't be sending him. Visits to other realms are on the basis of advice by those governments.

 

[tommy100]

I agree- but other people wouldn’t see it that way.

 

[Mirabel]

I still think Trump may get a second state visit.
The DM today stated that in his talk with the PM, he mentioned his respect for Charles and William.
That makes me think he's angling for another invitation.

 

[muriel]

I still think Trump may get a second state visit.
The DM today stated that in his talk with the PM, he mentioned his respect for Charles and William.
That makes me think he's angling for another invitation.

Having already been on a state visit to the UK, it would be good to see Trump host the King & Queen at a state visit to DC.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

Unless the governments in UK and US will get on better terms with each other, i doubt we will see any more state visits in either directions

 

[Alison H]

Unless the governments in UK and US will get on better terms with each other, i doubt we will see any more state visits in either directions

Redirect Notice

Keir Starmer and Donald Trump have praised each other and agreed to meet soon.

It seems likely that Trump will be invited for a second state visit, as there has been a change of government and change of monarch since his last one.

 

[tommy100]

I suspect Trump will indeed get a second state visit - he loves the RF so it would probably take a state visit to entice him over (i.e. he wouldn't come for an official visit or working trip) and the UK always wants to make a show of how close it is to America - even if there are tensions under the surface.

As BP isn't hosting any state visits in the immediate future at least we know it will be a bit different from his first state visit as it will be at Windsor.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

KCIII will probably meet Trump soon regardless somewhere in any capacity, as it is what newly elected presidents usually do (meeting the british monarch at some point wether it is a full state visit or just a visit over the day)…

As we all know, Trump is not the one who does things the traditional way… That’s why i think it’s impossible to say for sure what will happen… Though he also knows thay meeting the british monarch generates publicity, pr around himself, flashing cameras everywhere, a military salute and sometimes also a dinner at one of the palaces…. All the things he likes most… So i don’t think it will take him long to come to UK again….. or to invite Charles and Camilla to the White House.

 

[Alison H]

Redirect Notice

The Daily Mirror is reporting that the King and Queen are to visit the US as well as Canada. The Mirror is not the world's most reliable source, but that is what it's saying.

I'm trying to post a link but it doesn't seem to want to work, sorry!