It’s a diplomatic milestone.
Amid the full pomp of President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK, two high-profile figures will make a special appearance that will surely be one of the most scrutinised moments of the trip.
First Lady Melania Trump and Princess of Wales Catherine are reserved couples with a massive global presence. And while her joint appearance this week underlines the UK’s effort to strengthen ties with the first family in a delicate geopolitical situation, it is also a key moment for both women and the roles they play on the world stage.
For Trump, embarking on her first state visit of her husband’s second term – preparing for the trip has been a months-long effort, said a source familiar with state visit planning, which included organizing gifts and clothing that were not contradictory.
And for Kate, who returned to a lighter engagement schedule last September after reducing her appearances for chemotherapy treatments, this marks a strategic deployment of her star power.
“Here are clear stars, and Kate is at the top of that list,” said journalist Elizabeth Holmes, author of “HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style.”
The first appearance of the two women together (as they will do on Thursday for a visit to an exploration program) would be of great help to strengthen diplomatic ties, Holmes added, while relying on the ability of the royal family to organize memorable photographic opportunities.
We definitely don’t want to crash
When UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally delivered the invitation for King Charles III’s state visit to President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in February, they set off all the pomp and solemnity for the occasion.
Even the presidents and first ladies of the United States who visit the United Kingdom must follow a rigorous protocol, a long list of recommendations and topics of conversation, both before the cameras and outside them.
Plans have been under preparation for months to select gifts for their hosts, and the president and first lady are working with their teams and the State Department on a significant diplomatic exchange.
And the first lady is known to study and prepare meticulously.
“If she does any public events, but in particular foreign events, she knows there is a higher level of scrutiny about it, simply in terms of coverage,” said the source familiar with the matter.
She really has a very good eye for what will be displayed publicly, and to know how she wants to look, she explained.
Before trips like this, Melania Trump will receive a memo with biographical information about the leaders she will meet with and a more substantial folder full of details about her counterparts’ personal interests and plans for their events.
Much is also thought of what he will wear.
“The first lady has been planning her outfits, specifically her dress for dinner with the king and queen, for months,” a White House official told CNN.
Particularly at events where the protagonists will be seen but not heard, the message they convey through their wardrobe choices is significant, and those details are often communicated in advance through diplomatic channels.
Were we very direct, calling and asking, “Will you wear blue today?” And what tone of blue is it? And then, if she wore sky blue, we’d dress in navy blue. “We definitely don’t want to deny, we want to complement ourselves,” said the source familiar with the planning.
A real agenda
Plans have been made for a packed day at Windsor Castle: a ceremonial greeting, a royal greeting, and a carriage procession through the castle grounds with King Charles and Queen Camila.
There will be a troop inspection, a special flight from the Royal British Air Force, a lunch, and a floral offering at the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II before the great state banquet.
The next day, as the president gets to work with the prime minister, the first lady will be stuck with her own royal commitments: she will visit Queen Mary’s Doll House and the Royal Library with Camilla and then meet with the explorers at the Frogmore Gardens of the royal property with Kate.
The two women have an appointment with Chief Scout Dwayne Fields and members of the Squirrel Scouts program as they learn about nature to get their badge, Go Wild, according to Buckingham Palace. The princess is co-chair of the Scout Association, a position she has held since 2020.
This is where the role of the royal family becomes so evident: they are there to impress, and they do. Nobody does it like them. Enjoying a carriage ride and all these things that would mean a lot, especially for the Trumps, is a real advantage, Holmes said.
Is there always talk of the relevance of the monarchy in the modern era? Well, they’re being very useful. “This is a good time for them to do what they do,” he added.
The role of the princess is especially important.
“A significant part of this would be expected, but given what has happened personally in the last 18 months, I think people are very encouraged to see that they are willing to take on these most important roles now and these massive moments on the world stage,” Holmes continued.
Progress for the princess
The appearance of the first lady and the princess on Thursday in nature marks a visual counterpoint to the lavish show of the previous day and will provide more humanizing moments, Holmes said.
We all know the royal family for their fabulous tiaras and so on. But this reminds us of the important work they do,” he added.
Since her return to the public eye, Kate’s appearances have largely focused on the core themes of her actual portfolio: support and early childhood education, children’s mental health, and the importance of spending time outdoors.
The first lady has placed a similar emphasis on the welfare of children during her tenure, and recently sent a direct appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin on behalf of Russian and Ukrainian children, personally delivered by her husband in Alaska last month.
It has also supported legislation against deepfake pornography and revenge, as well as investment in young people in foster care.
I’m sure (the first lady) has sat for hours thinking, What’s the point of this? “What do I want to talk to the princess about?” the source familiar with the preparations for the state visit said. Your political interests align a little with the kids, so I can assume they will focus mainly on that.
It is also a significant moment in the princess’s recovery. Emily Nash, a real journalist for HELLO magazine, points out that the recognition event is one more step, after Kate attended parts of a state visit to Qatar last year and a state visit to France in July, including the latter’s state banquet.
This is not the first time the princess has appeared alongside a first lady. Kate met Jill Biden in 2021, visiting a school in Cornwall, England, during the G7 summit, where they highlighted early childhood education.
Biden and the then Duchess of Cambridge wrote in an opinion piece for CNN that both the United States and the United Kingdom should make a fundamental change in the way our countries deal with the first years of life.
Kate also met with the Obamas, memorably introducing a young Prince George dressed in a bathing gown at Kensington Palace in 2016.
But this event marks her first engagement as the US First Lady since becoming Princess of Wales.
Similarly, since he was appointed Prince of Wales, William has taken on a more important role in the family as he becomes a global statesman, replacing his father at international events, such as Pope Francis’ funeral, the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the D-Day commemorations. He has also demonstrated his own style of real leadership with interventions on current issues.
CNN’s Lauren Said-Moorhouse and Alayna Treene contributed to this story.
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