President Trump is now set to meet Queen Elizabeth II during his long-planned initial visit to England next month.
U.S. ambassador to England Woody Johnson told SkyNews the president and queen will meet, despite it not being a necessity. Trump is expected to have talks with Prime Minister Theresa May, though the trip was downgraded from an official trip to a “working visit,” which doesn’t technically require an invitation.
Plans for the visit have not yet been finalized, but Wood told the media his itinerary would include seeing the “head of state.”
“Putting his foot on British soil, it’s job one, it’s very important, very symbolic,” Wood said. “Meeting Her Majesty is the most important thing, because she’s the head of state, and from then on, it’ll be what the president wants to do.”
With the exception of Lyndon Johnson, the queen has met with every U.S. president since Dwight Eisenhower, but has not yet had a meeting with President Trump. Last month, Prince Harry met with first lady Melania Trump at the opening of the Invictus Games in Canada.
The decision to demote the level of the visit was likely due to the sweeping frustration expressed in the U.K. over the invitation May extended to the Trump last year.
More than 1.8 million British citizens have signed a petition opposing Trump’s visit, saying it would be an “embarrassment to the queen.” At the time of the invitation, Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow even said he would not allow Trump to address the body.
The president is due to arrive in England on the July 12 for a two-day stint.
