King Charles's wishes are said to have been overruled by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in bringing forward President Trump's state visit to September, despite royal concerns about the American leader's threats to Canada.
The Prime Minister is said to have prioritised strengthening UK-US relations over the Palace's preferences for a more measured approach.
Britain and the US are expected to confirm the full state visit as the prime minister hopes to capitalise on Trump's enduring fascination with the Royal Family.
The Palace had hoped for a "more leisurely and considered approach, building towards a full state visit," according to sources.
King Charles is expected to host President Trump in September despite the Palace's wishes for a later date.
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The accelerated timeline has created difficulties for the King, who serves as Canada's head of state, whilst Trump has repeatedly suggested the country could become America's 51st state.
King Charles had originally proposed an informal visit first, with a full state visit to follow later in Trump's second term.
However, the President "made clear that his preference was for a full visit first, which would not be overshadowed by an informal handshake picture," sources revealed to The Times.
The formal process has already begun, with the "manu regia," the official document required to initiate a state visit, signed by the King and hand-delivered to the White House.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer are believed to have brought forward to visit to capitalise on Trump's fascination with the Royal Family.
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Trump has publicly confirmed he will travel to the UK in September for what he described as a "fest".
The visit will include full ceremonial treatment, marking an unprecedented second state visit by a US President.
The Palace explicitly raised concerns about Trump's rhetoric regarding Canada, viewing it as grounds to delay the state visit.
One senior source revealed that a Palace aide told Government officials "the King did not want to fête Trump with a state visit while the President was 'impugning his sovereignty' over Canada".
The Palace is said to have preferred a later visit to allow frosty US-Canadian relations to thaw.
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Senior Government sources confirmed the King wanted the state visit later in Trump's term, hoping the Canadian issue could be resolved beforehand.
During a speech to the Canadian parliament in Ottawa last month, the King delivered a coded rebuke to Trump. He invoked Canada's "unique identity" and "sovereignty," declaring that "The True North is indeed strong and free."
The diplomatic manoeuvring began with a private letter from the King to Trump, intended to be delivered discreetly with conditions about ceasing the "51st state" rhetoric.
However, Starmer "torpedoed that aim by publicly presenting Trump with a letter from the King in the Oval Office," which sources described as a "c**k-up."
The letter was designed as a "voucher" to buy time, suggesting Trump visit Balmoral or Dumfries House, where they could "plan the state visit together".
The King had noted that "a second state visit by a US President was unprecedented," adding he would find it helpful to "discuss, together, a range of options".
Starmer has refused to confirm whether he privately urged Trump to moderate his Canadian rhetoric.
The public presentation of the letter raised expectations for a quicker state visit than the Palace intended.
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Donald Trump was handed an invitation to the UK from the King in person by Starmer.
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Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country is "not impressed" with Britain's invitation to Trump, whilst the President threatens to annex the nation.
During Starmer's visit to Canada last week, he was forced to insist that "Canada is an independent, sovereign nation, and quite right too."
Trump is expected to visit his Aberdeenshire golf resort next month, though sources indicate he won't meet the King due to scheduling rather than any lack of will.
A Palace aide confirmed: "His Majesty has known President Trump for many years and looks forward to hosting him and the first lady later this year."
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