King Charles has invited Donald Trump to combine his next visit to the Menie Estate with a stay at Balmoral Castle as the UK steps up its efforts to charm the new president.
The King sent a two-page letter extending the warm invitation to the US president via Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, who attended a meeting with him at the White House on Thursday.
The letter, which was visible in Mr Trump’s hand during a press conference, extended a personal invitation to visit Balmoral, the Royal family’s Scottish retreat where Elizabeth II spent the final weeks of her life.
Balmoral is only about 60 miles from the Trump International Golf Links Scotland, where he is due to open a new course named after his mother this summer.
Mary Anne MacLeod was born and brought up on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides but emigrated to New York in 1930, where she met and married Trump's father, Frederick.
The visit, the King suggested, would allow the two heads of state to discuss the details of a “historic second State Visit” to the UK.
“As you will know, this is unprecedented by a US president,” the King wrote. The letter was signed by hand: “Yours Most Sincerely, Charles.”
As Sir Keir presented the letter to Mr Trump, he said: “It is my pleasure to bring from His Majesty the King, a letter. He sends his best wishes and his regards, of course, but he also asked me to bear this letter and bring it to you. So can I present a letter from the King.”
He added: “This is really special. This has never happened before. This is unprecedented.”
Mr Trump replied: “Thank you very much. Am I supposed to read it right now?”
The King, he added, was a “great gentleman. A great, great gentleman. Well that is really nice. I must make sure his signature’s on that... That’s quite a signature, isn’t it? How beautiful.
“Beautiful man, a wonderful man and we appreciate... I’ve known him, gotten to know him very well actually.”