Donald Trump will receive an invitation to meet with the Queen in the summer of next year, according to reports.
Ministers believe the Queen is their "secret weapon" and Theresa May will use the state visit to help strengthen the "special relationship" between Britain and the United States.
The US president-elect reportedly told the Prime Minister during a phone call last week that his late Scottish mother had been a "big fan" of the Queen.
The Sunday Times reports that plans to roll out the red carpet and offer Mr Trump a meeting with the Queen are now being drawn up in Whitehall. A formal invitation will be made after he is sworn in as president on Jan 20.
A source who had discussed the issue with a cabinet minister said: "The government has decided that their secret weapon to get in with Trump is to offer him an early visit to the Queen, him and [his wife] Melania staying at Windsor Castle."
Another cabinet source said: "The Queen is the key here. She's not a secret weapon, she's the biggest public weapon you have. Nigel Farage can't get [Trump] in front of the Queen."
Mrs May will hope to take advantage of Mr Trump's affection for the Queen and seek to strike a free trade deal with the US.
An early visit to the UK from Mr Trump would also allow Mrs May to deny claims that Nigel Farage has closer ties with the Republican billionaire.
Number 10 has dismissed suggestions that the interim Ukip leader might become the "third person" in the relationship between the two world leaders, insisting that the Government already has "well-established" channels of communication.
A visit from Mr Trump would also provide a potential opportunity to warm up the apparently anti-global trade president-elect over the idea of a post-Brexit trade deal.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "No visit has been organised but the Prime Minister is looking forward to welcoming the president-elect to the UK when he chooses to visit."
A Buckingham Palace spokesman added: "State visits and other meetings with overseas heads of state are organised on the advice of the Government."
Ministers believe the Queen is their "secret weapon" and Theresa May will use the state visit to help strengthen the "special relationship" between Britain and the United States.
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| The president-elect reportedly told Theresa May that his mother had been a 'big fan' of the Queen |
The US president-elect reportedly told the Prime Minister during a phone call last week that his late Scottish mother had been a "big fan" of the Queen.
The Sunday Times reports that plans to roll out the red carpet and offer Mr Trump a meeting with the Queen are now being drawn up in Whitehall. A formal invitation will be made after he is sworn in as president on Jan 20.
A source who had discussed the issue with a cabinet minister said: "The government has decided that their secret weapon to get in with Trump is to offer him an early visit to the Queen, him and [his wife] Melania staying at Windsor Castle."
 |
| Ministers believe the Queen is Britain's 'secret weapon' to strengthen its relationship with the US |
Another cabinet source said: "The Queen is the key here. She's not a secret weapon, she's the biggest public weapon you have. Nigel Farage can't get [Trump] in front of the Queen."
Mrs May will hope to take advantage of Mr Trump's affection for the Queen and seek to strike a free trade deal with the US.
An early visit to the UK from Mr Trump would also allow Mrs May to deny claims that Nigel Farage has closer ties with the Republican billionaire.
Number 10 has dismissed suggestions that the interim Ukip leader might become the "third person" in the relationship between the two world leaders, insisting that the Government already has "well-established" channels of communication.
 |
| A spokeswoman said Theresa May was 'looking forward' to welcoming Mr Trump to the UK |
A visit from Mr Trump would also provide a potential opportunity to warm up the apparently anti-global trade president-elect over the idea of a post-Brexit trade deal.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "No visit has been organised but the Prime Minister is looking forward to welcoming the president-elect to the UK when he chooses to visit."
A Buckingham Palace spokesman added: "State visits and other meetings with overseas heads of state are organised on the advice of the Government."
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