The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will miss US President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK next month, as they carry out two major overseas tours.
The King and Queen will host the President and First Lady Melania Trump at Windsor Castle from September 17 to 19.
State Visits usually involve several senior members of the Royal Family, but Edward and Sophie will be abroad during the occasion.
Prince Edward will travel to Papua New Guinea from September 14 to 17, representing the King at celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence from Australia.
Donald Trump faces setback as Buckingham Palace confirms two senior royals' absence during State Visit
|REUTERS / PA
During the visit, “the Duke will attend a dawn flag-raising ceremony and a state dinner, to mark the occasion.”
Acting on behalf of the King, “the Duke will present new Regimental Colours to the First Royal Pacific Islands Regiment and confer 50th Independence Anniversary King’s Medals, awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to Papua New Guinea.”
He will also visit the new National Court Complex and meet communities in Port Moresby.
This will be the Duke’s first official trip to Papua New Guinea.
The Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Edward will be travelling to Papua New Guinea and later Japan
|GETTY
From September 18 to 22, the Duke will then travel to Japan, where he will be joined by the Duchess of Edinburgh.
The couple will undertake a programme celebrating the strong bilateral relationship between the UK and Japan.
In Osaka and Tokyo, engagements will focus on themes shared by both countries, including youth opportunity, sustainability and innovation, educating the next generation, and women in leadership.
During the visit, “the Duke and Duchess will visit the UK and Japanese Pavilions at EXPO 2025, Osaka, Kansai.”
The exposition, Japan’s largest international event of the decade, aims to bring together people and innovations from across the world to tackle global challenges.
The Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Edward pictured at Trump's State Visit in 2019
|GETTY
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King Charles and Donald Trump photographed together in 2019 | GETTY
While the Duke has previously visited Japan in 2004, 1998 and 1996, this will be the Duchess’s first official trip.
Ahead of her joint programme with her husband in Japan, the Duchess will also carry out a solo visit to Canada at the start of the month.
On September 4, she will travel to Alberta, where her programme will include a visit to the international show jumping venue Spruce Meadows.