Why King Charles and Donald Trump won't meet in Scotland next week

Plans for a historic state visit between King Charles and US President Donald Trump have taken shape, but not quite as soon as some anticipated.

The King has formally invited Trump to the UK for a state visit in September, with dates confirmed earlier this week. 

Trump is also due in Scotland next week, sparking speculation that the two could meet informally before the official Windsor Castle occasion.

However, it has now been confirmed that there will be no meeting between the monarch and the president during Trump’s visit to Scotland later this month. 

Scheduling conflicts, combined with the proximity of the formal state visit, meant that “both sides thought it best to wait until September,” royal sources said.

Trump’s Scottish stop, from July 25–29, will see him visit his Turnberry resort and Aberdeen, with meetings scheduled with new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney. 

This will be Trump’s first visit to Scotland since 2023, and his first since leaving office, though his 2018 presidential trip drew significant protests in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.

The main event, the formal state visit, is scheduled for September 12–19 at Windsor Castle, where King Charles will officially host the US president and First Lady Melania Trump. 

The visit echoes Trump’s 2019 state visit hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.

In a highly unusual move, Trump will be receiving a second state visit, a rarity, as former presidents typically receive a less formal meeting such as tea or lunch with the monarch after their term.

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