How is a working visit different to a state visit? Donald Trump’s UK trip’s status explained
US President Donald Trump met the Queen during his visit to London on July 13
DONALD Trump met the Queen as part of the President’s first visit to the UK since taking office.
But it has still been more of a working visit than the pomp, pageantry and a banquet that are the hallmarks of a state visit.
What is a state visit?
A state visit is a formal visit by a head of state and is normally at the invitation of the Queen after she has been advised by her Government.
The monarch acts as the official host for the duration of the trip.
Visitors usually stay with Her Majesty at either Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle.
There is usually a state banquet, and a visit to - and speeches at - the Houses of Parliament may be included.
How is a state visit different to a working visit?
A working visit is almost the same as a state visit in that it refers to an official visit to a foreign country by a current head of state - such as a US President.
But it is less formal than a state one and tends to have less of the pomp and ceremony.
And often the visit is by a country that is already a friend who wishes to discuss issues or to exchange favours rather than building a relationship.
Mostly, these visits are organised to discuss issues or policies that the two countries have in common.
Unlike a state affair, the visiting country covers all of the costs involved and must organise their own place to stay.
Who is paying for the golfing trip to Scotland?
The British government has in policing costs when Trump goes golfing in Scotland.
Treasury Secretary Liz Truss wrote to Scottish ministers to inform them they'd foot any police costs.
The interim chief constable of Police Scotland, Iain Livingstone, said the force would need up to 5,000 extra officers costing around £5million.
The country's new justice secretary Humza Yousaf said it was "completely unacceptable" to expect Scottish taxpayers to cover the bill.
Do people in Britain and Northern Ireland support a state visit by Trump?
A YouGov poll in February, 2018, found that 45 per cent of Britons supported a state visit, against 39 per cent who opposed it.
Meanwhile more than a million people have signed a petition calling for a state visit by Trump visit to be cancelled.
But others point out leaders with way worse records than Trump have visited - like the Chinese president in 2015 and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in March, 2018.
Furthermore it is argued that as the leader of America, one of Britain’s closest allies, Trump should be welcomed.
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