The King and the Prince of Wales are expected to make separate visits to America in the new year as part of a charm offensive aimed at President Trump.
Advanced talks are under way, and a source said that it was “highly likely” the King would make the trip in April.
The visit would be the first by a reigning monarch in almost 20 years, since Queen Elizabeth accepted an invitation from George Bush in 2007.
Later in the year, the Prince of Wales is expected to travel to North America when the US hosts the football World Cup with Canada and Mexico.
The visits are being timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of American independence and as discussions continue between Britain and the United States over formalising a trade deal.
This month the US paused its promised multi-billion-pound investment in British tech over regulatory frustrations regarding online safety rules, the digital services tax and food safety restrictions.
The £31 billion investment was the prize announcement from Trump’s state visit in September.
• Trump suspends US-UK tech deal amid push for trade concessions
Now diplomats hope that the royal family can again help to keep the special relationship on track.
While “outward” visits by the British royal family to the US tend to be less politically fraught than “inward” state visits of US presidents to Britain, Downing Street hopes to use these as an incentive to get a full UK-US trade deal signed with Trump.
Negotiations have become bogged down by American demands for more access to British markets for US farmers — a highly sensitive issue on both sides of the Atlantic.
Getting the deal done early in the new year is seen as important in London before campaigning begins in earnest for critical American mid-term elections in November.
Visits by members of the royal family overseas are seen as less fraught than trips by US presidents to the UK
ALAMY
Sir Keir Starmer is not expected to accompany the King on the visit. Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, is likely to attend to represent the government.
Prince William’s visit is expected to take place during the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19. He will attend in his capacity as patron of the Football Association.
England’s third group match is being played in New Jersey on June 27, a week before the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence celebrations on July 4.
It is possible that the visit will be timed to ensure that the prince is still in the US for Independence Day.
It is understood that formal invitations have yet to be extended from the White House to the royal family and that William has not yet made firm plans to attend the World Cup.
For the bicentennial celebrations of independence in 1976, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visited Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York during a six-day trip. The Queen was hosted by Gerald Ford at a White House state dinner.
Speaking about the visit in her Christmas broadcast that year, the Queen said: “This year we went to America to join in their bicentennial celebrations. Who would have thought 200 years ago that a descendant of King George III could have taken part in these celebrations? Yet that same King was among the first to recognise that old scores must be settled and differences reconciled.”
She added: “The United States was born in bitter conflict with Britain but we didn’t remain enemies for long.”
Trump has made no secret of his love of the royal family which can be traced back to his late mother Mary, who grew up in the Hebrides. One of his first memories was watching his mother transfixed by the Queen’s coronation in 1953.
Trump saw documents relating to American independence and the Civil War when he was invited to the UK for an “unprecedented” second state visit. At Windsor Castle, the president was shown letters from King George III and a series of maps depicting significant areas of the American revolution, including the siege of Yorktown where the British surrendered. Viewing the maps, the president said: “Wow, that’s great. That’s beautiful.”
Trump has often expressed his admiration for the royal family
CHRIS JACKSON/PA
The Trumps were shown an essay by King George III in which he expressed hope of a new trade relationship with America and “that we shall reap more advantages from their trade as friends than ever we could derive from them as colonies”. Trump said: “That’s so amazing, that’s the real deal.”
Trump’s visit was a powerful bargaining chip for Starmer during tense negotiations with the White House over trade tariffs.
While other US presidents had made second formal visits to the UK, Trump was received with all the pomp and pageantry of a full ceremonial state welcome.
He used his speech at the state banquet to hail the special relationship, saying that the word special “does not begin to do it justice”. He referred to the Princess of Wales as “so radiant and so healthy and so beautiful”.
The first lady also appeared to strengthen ties with the royal family. During the visit, Melania Trump took part in a joint engagement with Kate when they visited a young Scout troop in the gardens of Frogmore House on the Windsor Estate.
At the time, hints were dropped that it might be the start of a more lasting partnership between the princess, 43, and Mrs Trump, 55.
Dwayne Fields, the UK’s chief scout, said at the time that the women had found “a lot to talk about”. He added: “From what I’ve seen I wouldn’t be surprised if they were to go away and collaborate on something in the US.”
International collaborations have been seen recently between the Queen and Brigitte Macron, the French first lady. Following the King and Queen’s state visit to France in 2023, Camilla launched an Anglo-French literary prize.
If Kate and Mrs Trump followed suit, there could be an opportunity with the Girl Scouts of the USA, who have announced a partnership with America250, the organisation leading the independence celebrations.
A Palace source said that while there were no plans for a collaboration at this stage, both women had enjoyed their time together.