His Majesty King Charles has extended a personal invitation to President Donald Trump to stay at Balmoral Castle during his upcoming visit to Scotland. This invitation was conveyed through a two-page letter delivered by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a meeting at the White House on Thursday.
The letter, briefly visible in President Trump’s hands during a subsequent press conference, suggests combining the President’s planned visit to his Menie Estate golf resort with a stay at Balmoral, the Royal Family’s Scottish retreat. Balmoral holds particular significance as the location where the late Queen Elizabeth II spent her final weeks.
The castle’s proximity to Trump International Golf Links Scotland—a mere 60 miles apart—adds a personal touch to the invitation. The President is scheduled to inaugurate a new course at his resort this summer, named in honour of his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod. Born and raised on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Ms MacLeod emigrated to New York in 1930, where she later met and married Trump’s father, Frederick.
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King Charles’s letter proposes that this visit would provide an opportunity for the two heads of state to discuss arrangements for a second State Visit to the UK. The monarch noted that such an invitation is unprecedented for a US president, concluding the letter with a personal touch: “Yours Most Sincerely, Charles”.
Upon presenting the letter, Sir Keir Starmer highlighted its significance, stating, “This is really special. This has never happened before.” President Trump expressed his appreciation, describing King Charles as “a great gentleman” and noting their acquaintance.
This invitation reflects ongoing efforts by the UK to strengthen its relationship with the United States.
