The Princess of Wales and US first lady Melania Trump will step out together on an official outing next week, in a special joint appearance at Windsor Castle.

The outing is a first for the pair and will be a key part of next week’s state visit by the Trumps to Britain.

The visit, which begins on Wednesday (British time), is an unprecedented honour for Melania’s husband, US President Donald Trump.

Official confirmation in June of an invite from the King made Trump the first elected political leader in modern times to be hosted for two state visits by a British monarch. In 2019, during his first stint in the White House, he was welcomed by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The Trumps at Buckingham Palace with Queen Elizabeth II during their 2019 visit. Photo: Getty

The event is something of a charm offensive by Britain; the Starmer government will be hoping its lavish displays of pomp and pageantry will help cement close ties between the two allies at a time of global upheaval.

“His Majesty has known President Trump for many years and looks forward to hosting him and the first lady later this year,” a Buckingham Palace aide said in June.

Trump is known to be a fan of the royal family. In February, a video confirmed his long-held admiration – it showed him flicking through photos of himself alongside the late queen (whom he said was “fantastic”) and the King (a “really good person”).

Last week, with just days to go, details were released of the official agenda – and the pageantry will be laid on from the start.

On arrival in Britain on Wednesday morning, Trump and Melania will be greeted by America’s ambassador before being taken to Windsor Castle to meet Prince William and Kate. The Waleses will escort the couple to meet the King and Queen.

“Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales will greet The President and First Lady and accompany them to meet Their Majesties,” Buckingham Palace said.

“Their Majesties The King and Queen will formally welcome The President and First Lady outside, as a Royal Salute is fired from the East Lawn of Windsor Castle and at the Tower of London.

“Thereafter, the President and first lady will join The King and Queen, and The Prince and Princess of Wales, in a Carriage Procession through the Windsor estate, towards the Castle.”

Trump will later have lunch at Windsor Castle with the King and Queen. While there, he will lay a wreath on the tomb of the late queen – who he once described as a “grand and beautiful lady”.

On Wednesday night, the glitz will be dialled up even further for a state banquet. It is expected to be attended by more than 150 people, including royals, politicians and high-profile public figures that boast links to Britain and the US.

We got a glimpse of how it will all likely come together when French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte were treated to state banquet in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle for their state visit in July.

The outing with the princess and Melania Trump is scheduled for Thursday. They will meet Scouts Association chief scout Dwayne Fields and members of the Scouts’ Squirrels program at Frogmore Gardens, a 13-hectare estate within the Home Park at Windsor Castle.

Kate has been joint president of the Scout Association since 2020.

She and Melania have both made children’s health and wellbeing a key focus of their respective roles. The princess has her Early Years program, while Melania recently made an open plea to Russian President Vladimir Putin on behalf of the children of Ukraine.

Thursday’s appearance will also be closely watched as a major moment amid Kate’s return to royal duties following her cancer treatment and as her diplomatic role as Princess of Wales becomes more prominent.

But it is not the first time she has appeared alongside a US first lady. Kate met Jill Biden in 2021, visiting a school in Cornwall during the G7 summit.