Queen Camilla’s attendance at Donald Trump’s state visit tomorrow has been thrown into doubt after she was forced to pull out of attending the Duchess of Kent’s funeral today. She was due to attend the requiem mass, a Catholic funeral, alongside the King and other senior royals this afternoon, but will no longer join them due to illness.
In a statement confirming that the Queen is currently recovering from acute sinusitis, Buckingham Palace said: “With great regret, Her Majesty The Queen has withdrawn from attendance at this afternoon’s Requiem Mass for The Duchess of Kent as she is recovering from acute sinusitis. Her thoughts and prayers will be with The Duke of Kent and all the family.”
Her illness has raised questions about whether she will be able to attend all elements of tomorrow’s State Visit.
But the Queen is said to hope to have recovered sufficiently to be able to attend all elements of US President Donald Trump’s state visit on Wednesday and Thursday.
Her Majesty has an important part to play in the busy schedule and will no doubt be eager to attend.
The Queen travelled down from Scotland this morning and is currently en route to Windsor to rest.
The US President and First Lady will arrive in the UK on Tuesday evening, before the packed schedule gets under way the following morning.
In a major departure from tradition, the public will not get the chance to welcome the couple on the first day of their UK state visit as engagements will be held within the grounds of the private Windsor Estate instead.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will be the first royals to meet the couple on Wednesday as they will greet them in the grounds of Windsor Castle and formally introduce them to King Charles and Queen Camilla, if Her Majesty is able to attend.
The two royal couples and the Presidential couple will take part in an open-air greeting and a carriage procession to Windsor Castle before watching a flypast by the Red Arrows and UK and US F-35 military jets and a special Beating Retreat military ceremony on the East Lawn at Windsor – a first for any state visit.
The President and First Lady will also pay their respects at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb in nearby St George’s Chapel before being given a tour and a musical performance by the chapel choir.
The first evening will come to a close as a state banquet for 160 guests will be held in the grand St George’s Hall.
Other highlights from the visit will see Trump travel to the Prime Minister’s country home, Chequers, to meet Sir Keir and Lady Starmer. Meanwhile, Melania Trump will join the Princess of Wales in Frogmore Gardens for an engagement with the Scouts.