Trump UK visit: President to be 'honoured guest' during trip, British ambassador says

‘I’m confident that the UK-US alliance will continue to play a leading role in advancing our shared values of democracy and freedom,’ says Sir Kim Darroch

Thousands of people are expected to assemble in central London to show their opposition to the Trump administration’s policies (Reuters)

Donald Trump will be an “honoured guest” when he visits Britain next week, the British ambassador to America has said.

The US president will meet Prime Minister Theresa May at Chequers – her country estate in Buckinghamshire – and the Queen at Windsor Castle before going to Scotland during his first trip to the UK as president this coming week.

Mass protests opposing his administration are planned for his trip but Sir Kim Darroch has said the Anglo-American alliance plays a “leading role”.

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Sir Kim said the relationship between the US and Britain was “interwoven at every level”, adding he was grateful for American support on a free trade agreement post-Brexit.

He wrote: “President Trump will be an honoured guest, representing a partnership that is greater and deeper than any other in history.

“And in a world in which the challenges seem ever more daunting, I’m confident that the UK-US alliance will continue to play a leading role in advancing our shared values of democracy and freedom.”

Meanwhile, Sir Kim’s American counterpart, Woody Johnson, said Mr Trump was trying to get as much impact as possible from his four days in the UK on what he described as a “very important” visit.

Thousands of people are expected to assemble in central London to show their opposition to the Trump administration’s policies on issues which include immigration and foreign policy and the president’s divisive and xenophobic rhetoric.

Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, has approved protesters’ plans for a gigantic balloon known as “Trump baby” which depicts the president as an angry orange-coloured baby.

Permission has been granted to protesters by the Greater London Authority for the 20ft (6m)-high inflatable to rise above Parliament Square Gardens for two hours on the morning of Friday 13 July.