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

[taogg]

Wow, so the King is set to visit Canada in 2025, while Trump will visit the UK—though we don’t know when yet, possibly in 2025 as well? What a busy year for the King

 

[Villager90]

Wow, so the King is set to visit Canada in 2025, while Trump will visit the UK—though we don’t know when yet, possibly in 2025 as well? What a busy year for the King

Soft diplomacy in action.

It will be interesting to witness that’s for sure!

 

[Mirabel]

I'm not at all surprised, I thought it would happen.
A state visit is the sort of thing Trump revels in!

 

[Milla Rose]

If His Majesty does visit Canada, I really hope he stops in British Columbia! That's the only place remotely close to where I live that he has a chance of visiting.

 

[tommy100]

Good diplomatic move to visit both.

The letter to The President from King Charles also invites him to visit Dumfries House or Balmoral to talk further about a second state visit. A visit to Balmoral would be a rare honour as usually its only UK or Commonwealth leaders that visit from what I can recall.

 

[Mbruno]

Good diplomatic move to visit both.

The letter to The President from King Charles also invites him to visit Dumfries House or Balmoral to talk further about a second state visit. A visit to Balmoral would be a rare honour as usually its only UK or Commonwealth leaders that visit from what I can recall.

The Royal Family remains the UK's secret weapon. If anyone still doubted the value and soft power of the monarchy, I guess today's meeting with Trump have put those doubts to rest.

And Starmer and his advisers should be praised for correctly reading Trump's personality and mentality.

 

[tommy100]

1000% this - I can't imagine any other Head of State that Trump would have been as keen to show off getting a letter of invitation from. I think we often talk about the importance of having a politically neutral head of state for domestic reasons but the same applies internationally. By having someone as Head of State who isn't involved in politics, who is often 'on the scene' for decades longer than elected presidents etc (even those who aren't head of government) it creates a different relationship internationally and with other heads of state as well.

 

[Durham]

The King in his capacity as Head of the Commonwealth does not have to follow the advice of any government minister of any realm. I think therefore he should put out some sort of statement regarding the territorial integrity & sovereignty of all his Commonwealth Realms whilst at the same time in his capacity as King of the UK welcoming POTUS.

And what an utter embarrasment Starmer was when asked the following question :

"did you discuss, with President Trump, his repeated statements of desire to annex Canada, and has the King expressed any concern over the president’s apparent desire to remove one of his realms from his control?”

 

[Mbruno]

The King in his capacity as Head of the Commonwealth does not have to follow the advice of any government minister of any realm. I think therefore he should put out some sort of statement regarding the territorial integrity & sovereignty of all his Commonwealth Realms whilst at the same time in his capacity as King of the UK welcoming POTUS.

And what an utter embarrasment Starmer was when asked the following question :

"did you discuss, with President Trump, his repeated statements of desire to annex Canada, and has the King expressed any concern over the president’s apparent desire to remove one of his realms from his control?”

Indeed, Starmer refused to answer that question. In fact, he said in response thereto, that "there was no divide between the US and the UK", or something like that.

Still, the (American?) reporter who asked the question framed it incorrectly asking how the King felt about Trump trying to take away one of the King's realms "from the King's control". Starmer could have taken the opportunity to clarify to the reporter what the role of the King in the realms is. However, the question was clearly a provocation aimed at driving a wedge between the British government or the Royal Family and Trump, and Starmer was correct in my opinion not to take the bait.

The King does not have personal responsibility for foreign policy or external relations in Canada or any of the realms. "Head of the Commonwealth" on the other hand is a honorific title that has no constitutional meaning in Canada either. Buckingham Palace, despite many provocations, has consistently refrained from making any comments on the Trump/Canada affair, and it is absolutely right that the King should make no comment. The official position of the King of Canada (as a legal entity rather than an individual person) on this issue has to be conveyed by the King's responsible ministers in Canada.

EDIT: I am sure that some observers in continental Europe will come out tomorrow criticizing Starmer for "cozying up" to Trump while the PM tries at the same time to claim a united front with Europe, which, for some Europeans, brings up the usual "perfidous Albion" vibes. However, as I see it, that is just the Brits doing what they excel at, i.e. quiet diplomacy, keeping calm and carrying on. Quite frankly, some of the inflammatory remarks and emotional responses from European leaders with respect to the USA in recent days have been counter-productive and ineffective, especially in Germany. The Brits and, to be fair, President Macron seem to be approaching their relation with Trump in a more pragmatic and efficient manner.

 

[EvaH]

Exactly. What good will it do for the UK and France to go to war with the US? Musk is a loose canon. If his son can tell the sitting POTUS that he is not the president and should shut up, best to not poke the beast. We know that should things turn really ugly, the UK will be on the right side of history anyway.

Interesting to see what, if any, role the Wales will play in that state visit.

 

[Durham]

Being Head of the Commonwealth has nothing to do with Buckingham Palace, Rideau Hall or any other official residence. The honorific has no vested connection with the crown of the UK or Canada or any other realm. As a logical consequence therefore if the present Head of the Commonwealth wants to make a political statement about anything to do with any part of the Commonwealth then they are at liberty to do so unencumbered by any constitutional obligations that they might have in any other capacity.

It would be the Head of the Commonwealth not the British or Canadian monarch who would be making a statement about the national sovereignty of a member of the Commonwealth. It can be counter signed by the Commonwealth Secretary General & issued form Marlborough House. Such an action would be a worthy, rational, reasonable & unemotional response to an unworthy, irrational, unreasonable & emotional series of statements by the US president.

I have no doubt that it would be welcomed in Canada for a start. Not to mention in this country. After all, Trump’s inflammatory & provocative rhetoric with regard to his northern friend & neighbour has transgressed all boundaries of diplomatic decency. He has done a lot of damage & it will not be forgotten. The relationship between Canada & the US will not ever be quite the same again that’s for sure. And all of this has not gone unnoticed in the UK.

Mods please move to the member’s section if appropriate.

 

[Iluvbertie]

The King in his capacity as Head of the Commonwealth does not have to follow the advice of any government minister of any realm. I think therefore he should put out some sort of statement regarding the territorial integrity & sovereignty of all his Commonwealth Realms whilst at the same time in his capacity as King of the UK welcoming POTUS.

And what an utter embarrasment Starmer was when asked the following question :

"did you discuss, with President Trump, his repeated statements of desire to annex Canada, and has the King expressed any concern over the president’s apparent desire to remove one of his realms from his control?”

He has to follow the advice of the UK government. Other than the Christmas messasge EVERY message he puts out is approved by the British government - even those made as Head of the Commonwealth.

What you are suggesting could cause a constitutional crisis in the UK where the King is at odds with the government of the day. Starmer would be forced to resign and fight an election on the role of the Sovereign. Charles isn't an idiot and he knows that he can't do anything without the approval of the British government. He might be the Head of State of the realms but he has formal representatives there that can speak on behalf of those nations with the approval of their governments but he can't say anything without the approval of the British government.

 

[Durham]

The late queen attended the 1973 Commonwealth heads of government meeting despite being advised by the British prime minister not to. So there is precedent for the monarch acting as Head of the Commonwealth independent of the British government.

It would also be the right thing to do. For our Canadian cousins.

 

[Blog Real]

Will a Danish state visit to the UK be possible this year?

 

[muriel]

Will a Danish state visit to the UK be possible this year?

I do not think the UK government will consider it a priority to offer Denmark a state visit so early in the reign of KC3.

 

[PrincessofEurope]

The focus of our UK gov is less European monarchy countries and more Middle East and emerging trading partners. The days of big glitzy tours and royal visits seem to be in the past - they are more muted now and fewer days.

I hope this year we see Charles, Camila and the PoW deployed to Commonwealth countries

 

[Blog Real]

When was the first time Prince William attended a state visit banquet to the UK?

 

[An Ard Ri]

I would imagine after he was married and as Duke of Cambridge?
(not 100% sure)

 

[Elly C]

I would imagine after he was married and as Duke of Cambridge?
(not 100% sure)

I think you’re right! According to reports I found, the first one the Duchess attended was the Chinese visit in 2015. I only found one report that indicates it was William’s first banquet too.( see below)

Duchess Kate Dazzles in Diamonds at Her First State Banquet

Kate looked regal wearing the Lotus Flower Tiara on loan from the Queen.

abcnews.go.com

 

[muriel]

When was the first time Prince William attended a state visit banquet to the UK?

Chinese state banquet, 2015

 

[Blog Real]

Chinese state banquet, 2015

It took him many years to attend a state banquet compared to the new heirs. Catharina Amalia of the Netherlands and Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, for example, started doing this while still in their 20s, and Ingrid isn't even crown princess yet.

 

[muriel]

It took him many years to attend a state banquet compared to the new heirs. Catharina Amalia of the Netherlands and Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, for example, started doing this while still in their 20s, and Ingrid isn't even crown princess yet.

He took is time, but he wasn't the Crown Prince till 2022. Previously, in addition to the Queen & Philip, Charles & Camilla, Anne & Tim, Andrew, Edward & Sophie, the Gloucester's, Eddie Kent and Alexandra all attended state banquets. There really was no need for William to do so.

 

[duke of poliganc]

He took is time, but he wasn't the Crown Prince till 2022. Previously, in addition to the Queen & Philip, Charles & Camilla, Anne & Tim, Andrew, Edward & Sophie, the Gloucester's, Eddie Kent and Alexandra all attended state banquets. There really was no need for William to do so.

But the Wales’s are notorious for being work shy, both are in their 40’s and you can hardly say they working full time as Royals!

 

[tommy100]

I've been critical of their work efforts but even I agree there was little point them attending state banquets too early, the BRF had 10+ royals attending each state banquet so tbh it was unnecessary. The BRF are quite good at managing their "top team" to ensure they are used to best effect - why do you think we rarely ever saw the late Queen out and about with other "working royal" members of her family until her health required it? By William not attending a State Visit before 2015 helped take the sting out of his father not attending the State Banquet for the Chinese so - attention was too much on William and Catherine at their first banquet for anyone to notice too much. So all worked out well in the end.

 

[duke of poliganc]

I've been critical of their work efforts but even I agree there was little point them attending state banquets too early, the BRF had 10+ royals attending each state banquet so tbh it was unnecessary. The BRF are quite good at managing their "top team" to ensure they are used to best effect - why do you think we rarely ever saw the late Queen out and about with other "working royal" members of her family until her health required it? By William not attending a State Visit before 2015 helped take the sting out of his father not attending the State Banquet for the Chinese so - attention was too much on William and Catherine at their first banquet for anyone to notice too much. So all worked out well in the end.

It’s not out of necessity but people who usually attend the state visits in the UK from the royal family do it out of duty.

There is no need for Princess Astrid of Norway who is in her 90’s or even Ingrid Alexandra to attend but they are going to do so!

 

[Hans-Rickard]

Queen Elizabeth II likely decided that we are already enough with people so William and Harry wasn’t needed back then… And with herself , Philip, Charles, Camilla, Anne, Tim, Andrew, Edward, Sophie, Richard, Birgitte, Edward Kent, Alexandra, and often also Prince and Princess Michael of Kent being there, i won’t blame her for deciding that 15 royals was enough

 

[An Ard Ri]

It took him many years to attend a state banquet compared to the new heirs. Catharina Amalia of the Netherlands and Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, for example, started doing this while still in their 20s, and Ingrid isn't even crown princess yet.

He wasn't Prince of Wales at that time and was the grandson of the Monarch.

 

[duke of poliganc]

Again that would be a great excuse for prince harry not to attend but not for the 30+ future prince of wales who was working part time as a pilot, there was no need for him to attend as there was a lot of of royal family members there, but did he have something more important than this to do, his engagements during that time was so few and he wasn’t studying in college so what’s was the reason!

 

[duke of poliganc]

He is the future king we are not criticizing lady Gabriella for not attending state visits, but the future of the monarchy who comes of as lazy and not that enthusiastic about his future role taking advantage of other royals who are working hard through their 90’s just to avoid doing what is expected of him!

 

[muriel]

Again that would be a great excuse for prince harry not to attend but not for the 30+ future prince of wales who was working part time as a pilot, there was no need for him to attend as there was a lot of of royal family members there, but did he have something more important than this to do, his engagements during that time was so few and he wasn’t studying in college so what’s was the reason!

William & Catherine did not start to live in London until 2017. In 2015-2017, they were based at Anmer Hal and William worked with the East Anglia Rescue Service. This was arrangement that QE2 and Prince Charles were comfortable with, so I do not see it as an issue. Since 2017 when they took on state duties full time, I think William and Catherine have attended every state banquet, barring when she was pregnant with Louis or when recovering from cancer.