United States President Donald Trump is set to receive lavish royal honors this week during his unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom.

The visit will feature a carriage ride and flypast with King Charles III, along with a glittering state banquet at Windsor Castle.

British officials hope the pomp will appeal to Trump’s fascination with the monarchy and help Prime Minister Keir Starmer build rapport with the US president ahead of talks on trade, tariffs, and the Ukraine conflict.

The trip’s main events will unfold away from London to avoid mass protests planned in the capital. Demonstrators are expected to gather there to voice opposition to the 79-year-old Republican leader.

Despite being unlikely allies, Starmer has invested considerable effort into winning Trump’s trust since his return to the White House in January. “This is really special, this has never happened before, this is unprecedented,” Starmer remarked in February as he personally delivered King Charles’ invitation to Trump at the Oval Office. Trump praised the monarch, who is undergoing cancer treatment, saying Charles was a “great, great gentleman.”

The state visit leans heavily on Trump’s admiration for royal traditions and British heritage, shaped partly by his Scottish roots.

Trump frequently recalls fondly his 2019 state visit when he met Queen Elizabeth II, and he will now become the first US president to enjoy such an honor twice. Prince William and Princess Catherine will open the visit by welcoming the Trumps to Windsor.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will later preside over a day of ceremonies, including a military flyover, carriage procession, and Beating Retreat display, followed by a state banquet. Trump will also privately visit the late queen’s grave.

Talks at Chequers, the prime minister’s country residence, are expected to produce agreements on “a world-leading tech partnership” and “a major civil nuclear deal,” according to British officials.

Ukraine will be a key issue, with European leaders pressing Trump to continue supporting Kyiv despite signs of a pivot toward Russia’s Vladimir Putin. First Lady Melania Trump will join Queen Camilla at Windsor for a tour of the Queen Mary Dolls’ House and later attend a scouting event with Catherine.

Underlying tensions include concerns over free speech in the UK, with the White House confirming Trump will raise the issue. Another sensitive subject is the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which led to the dismissal of Britain’s ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, due to his ties to the disgraced financier.