U.S. President Donald Trump began a state visit to Britain on Monday.
However, the pomp and formal banquet with Queen Elizabeth looked set to be overshadowed by his views on Brexit, the UK’s next leader and a security row over China’s Huawei.
Trump and his wife, Melania, will be treated to a full display of British royal pageantry during the June 3 to June 5 visit.
Such as, a lunch and a formal dinner with Queen Elizabeth, tea with heir Prince Charles, and a tour of Westminster Abbey, coronation church of English monarchs for 1,000 years.
Beyond the ceremony, though, the 45th U.S. president is likely to rock the boat with the U.S.’ closest ally, whose political establishment has been in chaos for months over Britain’s departure from the European Union.
Trump commended a more radical Brexit-supporting potential successor to Prime Minister Theresa May, and his envoys have urged a tougher British stance toward Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.
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“I look forward to being a great friend to the United Kingdom, and am looking very much forward to my visit,” Trump wrote on Twitter minutes before Air Force One landed.
In a sign of how he would not shy away from causing controversy on the trip, he used the same message to take a swipe at long-term opponent London Mayor Sadiq Khan, describing him as a “stone cold loser’’.
Britain expressed optimism that the visit will cement the so-called special relationship between the countries and lay the platform for a post-Brexit trade deal, which Trump has said could be worked out in the near future.
On Monday, Trump will receive the full royal treatment from his hosts.
After being greeted by the queen and heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace, he will enjoy lunch with the 93-year-old monarch and other senior royals.
The queen’s second son Prince Andrew will then accompany Trump to Westminster Abbey where the president will lay a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior before the day culminates with a lavish state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
This is where men wear white tie coats with tails and women evening gowns. (NAN)