King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to head to both America and Canada next year on their biggest royal tour yet and will be deployed to help with diplomatic relations with Donald Trump

The King and Queen are to be deployed on their biggest royal tour yet – a “charm offensive” in the USA.

Charles and Camilla are expected to head to America and Canada, in a jaunt our government hopes will help diplomatic relations with Donald Trump. The royals will first be deployed to Canada, Charles’ first visit to the British realm as monarch, before being welcomed to the US by President Trump.

Next year is also the 250th anniversary of American Independence, which will be celebrated across the nation on July 4, 2026. Sources close to the planning say discussions between governments have already begun, with an official invitation from Washington expected imminently.

Charles with Trump and First Lady Melania at Clarence House in 2019 ( 
Image:
POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The Mirror understands both North American tours will be agreed for the first half of next year, most likely the Spring. In line with the King’s continued cancer treatment, a US visit by the Prince and Princess of Wales has been earmarked as a contingency, although it is the preference to host Their Majesties, sources said.

King Charles arrives at the French Senate

It will be the first time a British monarch has visited the United States since 2007, the last of five royal tours the late Queen Elizabeth II undertook. As Prince of Wales, Charles undertook more than 20 official visits to the US. The King’s most senior aides will be key to developing the framework for the highly anticipated trip.

Buckingham Palace is understood to be “overwhelmingly keen” on the tour and is committed to working with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for the plans, sources suggest. A government source said: “This will undoubtedly be the biggest tour of the King’s reign so far, a huge undertaking for a British monarch to be hosted in the United States.

King Charles is expected to be welcomed in the USA by Trump next year ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
“Americans love the British royal family and it is a great opportunity for both sides to reaffirm the special relationship in such an important and historic year for the US. The King has been especially keen to travel to Canada, a country and people he holds so much affection for, it will be a charm offensive on both sides.”

However, the palace last night remained tight-lipped over the royal tour plans, with one palace source remarking: “There are no current dates in the diary for Their Majesties to tour either Canada or the USA, or active Palace planning taking place for either option.”

The Royal Visits Committee, on which representatives from Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace sit alongside Foreign Office officials, has not yet met to discuss the plans, but it is understood to be on the agenda during the next quarterly meeting. The UK government is still open to plans to host President Trump on an official state visit at some stage throughout his five-year term, but conversations with the White House have already gathered pace for the King to meet Trump on his turf.

It was reported this week how the King, described as “one of life’s great letter writers” has kept up his personal correspondence with the former president. The Telegraph this week revealed how Charles had posted “a hand-written missive every now and then to the delight of Trump and his wife Melania”.

Prince William during a meeting with Donald Trump in Paris in December ( 
Image:
Getty Images)A royal source said: “It is clear there is warmth and respect for the office from both the King and President Trump. There is no clearer demonstration of soft diplomacy in action. It will be a huge success.” Trump was hosted in 2019 for an official State Visit where Charles undertook the then-Prince of Wales-level duties at Buckingham Palace.

After his triumphant return to the White House was confirmed in November, the incoming president also met heir to the throne Prince William in December, during a whistlestop trip to Paris for the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral following the devastating fire in 2019.

Trump described William, 42, as “really very handsome” while praising him for doing a “fantastic job”, both before and after their 40-minute meeting at the British ambassador’s residence. As King, Charles has already undertaken official visits to Germany, Romania, France, Kenya, Dubai, Australia, Samoa and Poland.

As revealed by the Mirror, his spring tour with the Queen is to Italy where he will meet the Pope in April. Following his successful trip to Australia and Samoa in October, palace aides said the King would return to a “full schedule” of regular overseas trips this year after the hiatus from official foreign duties he has taken since his cancer diagnosis.

Royal sources say the King has been keen to travel to Canada for “a long time”. Plans for his first tour of Canada as head of state were set for May 2024, but were delayed due to his cancer diagnosis. This yeah he was prohibited from an official visit as the country is undertaking national elections.

As Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, the couple last visited Canada in 2022 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Buckingham Palace did not comment.