Queen Elizabeth II will welcome US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania to Buckingham Palace today. The state visit is already overshadowed by his outspoken remarks on Brexit. Britain is currently in turmoil with PM Theresa May is due to step down soon over her handling the country's exit from the European Union.
While at Buckingham, Trump and Melania will be treated to a guard of honour, a private lunch and later, a glittering state banquet. Trump has commented that Boris Johnson would make an excellent choice to succeed May. He even said that Nigel Farage of the Brexit Party should be included in talks for Brexit.
“He is a very smart person,” the president said. “They won’t bring him in. Think how well they would do if they did,” Trump said, talking of Farage.
Trump also recommended that the next PM should walk away from talks with Brussels, refuse to pay Britain's agreed divorce bill and leave the EU with no deal.
The much vaunted UK-US "special relationship" was already under strain over different approaches to Iran, China and the Paris climate change accord. On Wednesday, May along with Trump will join other world leaders in the English port of Portsmouth to commemorate 75 years since the D-Day landings, which changed the course of World War II.
May and Trump are expected to emphasise on wider benefits of the old alliance when they hold talks at Downing Street on Tuesday.
Three years after the referendum vote for Brexit, Britain remains divided and anxious about its place in the world.
