Donald Trump will become the first elected politician in modern history to host two state visits by the royal family, it was reported last night.
Number 10 and the Foreign Office are preparing to extend an invitation to the US president-elect once he returns to the White House in January.
A senior Whitehall source told The Daily Telegraph: ‘(Mr Trump) loves the royal family. Look at the fact that he had his own photo album made from the last visit. Why wouldn’t we want a repeat?’
The visit would likely not take place until 2026, as the Mail reported last week.
Diplomats hope to take advantage of the high regard that President Trump has for the British royal family.
The president-elect was invited to a three-day state visit to Great Britain in 2019.
Earlier this month, Trump and Prince Willaim shared a warm handshake as they both attended the historic reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
They also met at the British Ambassador’s Reisdence in Paris.
President Donald Trump with Queen Elizabeth II, inspects the guard of honor at Windsor Castle
The Prince of Wales shook hands with newly-elected US President Donald Trump in Paris earlier this month
Trump laughs at Queen Elizabeth II after praising her as a ‘great, great woman’ during his latest state visit
Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump pose for a photo ahead of a state banquet in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace
In what was the new US president’s first meeting with a member of the royal family since his landslide election victory last month, he praised the prince and joked: “Good man, this one.”
The Prince of Wales asked Trump if he had warmed up, to which the politician replied that he had, noting that the lavish event to mark the reopening of the 861-year-old cathedral “was a beautiful ceremony.”
The two men stood side by side as the Republican jerked his thumb at William before adding, “He’s doing a fantastic job.”
During their 40-minute meeting, the pair discussed a range of global issues but focused on the importance of the relationship between Britain and the US, with the president-elect sharing fond memories of the late Queen, Kensington Palace said.
Donald Trump’s last visit to Britain took place in 2019, where he dined with the Queen and attended a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Portsmouth.
AAt the end of its whirlwind three-day state, the Queen said to him: ‘I hope you will come to this country again soon’.
Trump was heard saying: “Wonderful woman. Wonderful, wonderful woman” as he and Melania boarded his Marine One helicopter. They flew to Southampton Airport before being taken to Shannon in Ireland by Air Force Two.