Windsor Castle is set to take center stage once more as it hosts an unprecedented diplomatic event: the second state visit of U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to the United Kingdom. Scheduled for September 17 and 18, 2025, the visit will feature all the trappings of royal ceremony, but it’s a quieter, more intimate engagement between two high-profile women—Catherine, Princess of Wales, and First Lady Melania Trump—that’s generating the most intrigue.
According to The Telegraph and corroborated by Buckingham Palace, the Princess of Wales will carry out a solo engagement with the First Lady at Windsor Castle’s Frogmore Gardens on September 18. The two, both known for their privacy and influence, will join Chief Scout Dwayne Fields and members of the Scouts’ Squirrels program as they work toward their “Go Wild” nature badge. This event marks a rare public appearance for both women, whose official work has increasingly focused on the wellbeing of children.
The timing of this joint appearance is significant. Catherine, who has been joint president of the Scout Association since 2020, is in the midst of a phased return to royal duties following chemotherapy after a cancer diagnosis last year. Despite limiting her official diary, she’s chosen to step into the spotlight for this engagement, highlighting her dedication to causes supporting young people. Melania Trump, meanwhile, has been a less frequent public presence during her husband’s second term, but has played an influential role behind the scenes, including diplomatic efforts such as sending a letter to President Vladimir Putin urging an end to the war in Ukraine, as reported by The Times.
The broader context of the state visit underscores the United Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to maintain strong diplomatic ties with the Trump administration. The visit will be hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, with President Trump and the First Lady staying with the royal couple from Tuesday, September 16, through Thursday, September 18. The itinerary, released by Buckingham Palace and detailed by The Guardian, includes a series of ceremonial events that blend tradition with diplomatic pageantry.
On September 17, the Trumps will be formally welcomed at Windsor Castle with a Royal Salute fired from the East Lawn and the Tower of London. They’ll be accompanied by the King, Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales in a carriage procession through the Windsor estate. However, the procession will be confined to Home Park, with no public viewing allowed—a notable departure from previous state visits, likely due to the controversy surrounding President Trump’s return.
The day’s schedule is packed: after a formal lunch in the State Dining Room with members of the royal family, the Trumps will view a special display of items from the Royal Collection relating to the United States in the Green Drawing Room. Later, they’ll visit St. George’s Chapel to privately lay a wreath on Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb, tour the chapel, and enjoy a musical performance by the chapel choir. That evening, a lavish state banquet will be held at Windsor Castle, with British and American dignitaries in attendance.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who played a key role in extending the invitation for this second state visit, emphasized the historic nature of the occasion. "This is an unprecedented and very special state visit. This has never been done before and there'll be many elements of it that have never been seen before. So this is going to be a historic occasion and we're all very much looking forward to it and I was very, very pleased to be able to put forward the invitation when we were at the White House earlier this year. So this is not just a state visit. They're always incredible occasions. This is an unprecedented second state visit, so you can imagine just how special that's gonna be," Starmer stated, as reported by The Guardian.
President Trump himself has expressed both anticipation and appreciation for the royal family, telling reporters, "So it's gonna be great and being with Charles and Camilla and everybody, I've gotten to know because of four years and now six months, gotten to know a lot of the family members. They're great people. They're really great people. And in that sense, I think that the UK is very lucky." Trump’s affection for the late Queen Elizabeth II is well documented, and part of the state visit will include a solemn wreath-laying at her grave—a gesture underscoring the enduring transatlantic relationship.
The visit also features a Beating Retreat ceremony on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle, where the Trumps, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prime Minister Starmer, and his wife Victoria will join U.S. and British military families. This blend of military tradition and family emphasis reflects the multifaceted nature of the alliance between the two nations.
While much attention is paid to the grand state occasions, it’s the quieter, more personal moments—like the Princess of Wales and First Lady Melania Trump meeting with Scouts—that may have a lasting impact. Both women have made children’s wellbeing a cornerstone of their public roles. Their joint appearance is reminiscent of previous partnerships between British royals and American first ladies. In 2021, Catherine met with then-First Lady Jill Biden during the G7 summit in Cornwall. The two visited a local school to highlight early childhood education and later co-authored an op-ed for CNN, calling for a "fundamental shift in how our countries approach the earliest years of life." Earlier, in 2016, Catherine and Prince William hosted Barack and Michelle Obama at Kensington Palace, introducing a young Prince George to the Obamas in a moment that charmed the public on both sides of the Atlantic.
Melania Trump’s scheduled tour with Queen Camilla of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and the Royal Library at Windsor Castle adds another layer of royal tradition to the visit. These personal touches, set against the backdrop of formal diplomatic events, help to humanize the often-remote world of international relations.
Notably, the state visit comes at a time of shifting political dynamics and public scrutiny. The decision to restrict the carriage procession to Home Park and limit public access reflects ongoing debates about the role of monarchy, the optics of hosting controversial figures, and the evolving nature of U.K.-U.S. relations. Yet, for all the grandeur and controversy, the visit’s emphasis on youth, family, and shared values offers a reminder of the connections that endure beyond politics.
As Windsor Castle prepares for this historic occasion, all eyes will be on the Princess of Wales and First Lady Melania Trump. Their joint engagement, though modest in scale, signals the importance of soft diplomacy and the enduring power of personal relationships in shaping the future of global alliances.
