In September 2025, King Charles is set to welcome Donald and Melania Trump during their state visit to the U.K. Interestingly, news has surfaced that two prominent figures from the Royal Family will not be present to greet the American president.
According to press releases from Buckingham Palace, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie will be away on important duties when the Trumps arrive. From September 14 to 17, the Duke of Edinburgh will be in Papua New Guinea to celebrate the nation’s 50th independence anniversary. His itinerary features “a dawn flag-raising ceremony and a state dinner for the occasion.”
After their visit to Papua New Guinea, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie are heading to Japan from September 18 to 22, as noted in a separate announcement. Palace officials stated that in both Osaka and Tokyo, the couple will focus on issues like youth opportunity, sustainability, education for future generations, and women in leadership roles.
While in Japan, they’ll also participate in “Japan’s largest international event,” which includes the U.K. and Japanese Pavilions at EXPO 2025, Osaka, Kansai. A report by GB News mentions that the absence of Edward and Sophie for Trump’s visit could be seen as a “setback.”
The Trump couple will land in the U.K. from September 17 to 19. According to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, “Catherine will be golden for a man as vain as Donald Trump.” She emphasized that being seen alongside her will hugely boost his image.
