Ed Davey slams Keir Starmer's 'lack of backbone' after Buckingham Palace announces King's US State Visit

Svar Nanan-Sen
Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:35:24 +0000

Sir Ed Davey has launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister following today's announcement of the King's forthcoming State Visit to the US.

The Liberal Democrat leader accused Sir Keir Starmer of displaying "a staggering lack of backbone" by advising the monarch to press ahead with the trip whilst President Trump continues to publicly criticise the UK Government.

Sir Ed described the decision as "a humiliation" given President Trump's previous dismissal of the Royal Navy as "toys," calling it evidence of "a government too weak to stand up to bullies."

It comes as Buckingham Palace confirmed the King and Queen will travel to the United States in late April, ahead of the 250th anniversary of independence.

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The Palace stated that the programme would honour both the longstanding historical ties and the contemporary bilateral relationship between the two nations.

While precise dates have not been announced, the itinerary will feature a White House state dinner, which President Trump confirmed at a press conference last week.

The King will also deliver an address to Congress during the visit.

This will be King Charles’s first State Visit to America since taking the throne.

Keir Starmer will be hoping the State Visit will help improve the special relationship between the UK and US following a prologued period of tension between the Prime Minister and President Donald Trump.

The Palace indicated that further programme details for both countries would be released closer to the departure date.

Following the royal couple's time in America, King Charles will continue to Bermuda without the Queen, representing his inaugural official visit to a British Overseas Territory as monarch.

The King visited the US on 19 separate occasions during his time as Prince of Wales, including a joint official tour with Camilla in 2005.

Queen Elizabeth II made four outward State Visits to America during her reign, in 1957, 1976, 1991 and 2007.

Four American Presidents have undertaken inward State Visits to Britain since 1952, most recently in 2025 when Donald Trump travelled to the UK in September.