Donald Trump has hailed King Charles an ‘elegant gentleman’ ahead of the US President’s unprecedented second state visit to the UK. 

The President of the United States and First Lady Melania have boarded Air Force One, set to be welcomed by the King upon their arrival in Britain later this evening.

Trump hailed the second state visit to the UK as a ‘great honour’ and said that he is looking forward to talking to his ‘friend’, the King.

Supporters of the President have asserted that he intends to ‘be gentle’ with the embattled Sir Keir Starmer after recent challenges to the Prime Minister’s leadership.

Throughout his three-day visit to the UK, the President’s itinerary includes a royal flypast, a carriage ride with Princess Kate, and a grand state banquet, along with various other engagements.

Speaking at the White House before departing, the president added how it is ‘the first time it has ever happened where somebody was honoured twice’ with a state visit.

Insisting his his visit is ‘primarily’ to meet the King and Queen, Trump added: ‘They’re friends of mine for a long time, long before he was King, and it’s an honour to have him as King.

‘I think he represents the country so well, I’ve watched, he’s such an elegant gentleman.’

Donald Trump (pictured with wife Melania) hailed King Charles an ‘elegant gentleman’ ahead of the US President’s second state visit to Britain

The Union and American flags are seen flying outside Windsor Castle ahead of the visit 

The president’s allies claimed Mr Trump would ‘go easy’ on embattled Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer amid an on-going free speech row

Labour had feared the president could use the visit, which starts tonight, to lambast the PM over freedom of speech in the UK, amid claims from conservatives that the Online Safety Bill impinges on the rights of Americans.

But sources today said the president could go easy on Sir Keir due to the significant domestic pressure he is under.

One said: ‘This trip will be about the splendour of Windsor Castle, inspecting the troops, the big banquet. This is a big deal for him. And the plan is to keep it about that.’ 

The American leader is being feted with a stay in Windsor Castle where he will be hosted by the King and treated to a ceremonial welcome on Wednesday and a lavish state banquet.

Security will be paramount, with Mr Trump confined to the private Windsor estate on the first full day, before heading to the Prime Minister’s country residence Chequers on Thursday.

Asked what he hoped to achieve during the visit, the US President told reporters before taking off: ‘My relationship is very good with the UK, and Charles, as you know, who’s now King, is my friend.

‘It’s the first time this has ever happened where somebody was honoured twice. So, it’s a great honour.

‘And this one’s at Windsor. They’ve never used Windsor Castle for this before. They use Buckingham Palace. And I don’t want to say one’s better than the other, but they say Windsor Castle is the ultimate, right? So it’s going to be nice.’

Mr Trump has now boarded Air Force One with wife Melania Trump and will arrive in the UK tonight.

The 79-year-old ‘leader of the free world’ is beginning his three-day state tour tonight before concluding it on Friday. 

The American couple arrive in the midst of a furious row over freedom of speech fuelled by the president and his allies which could cause a flashpoint adding to the pressure on Prime Minister

Just hours ahead of the president’s arrival, Sir Sadiq Khan has reignited his feud with the Republican, claiming record numbers of Americans are moving to London to escape him.

The city mayor, who has clashed repeatedly with the president during his nine years in office, said a record number of people were crossing the Atlantic to make lives in the UK since the start of his second term.

Sir Sadiq hit out just hours before Trump and first lady Melania are due to touch down for his second State Visit to the UK.

In a pointed statement Sir Sadiq said: ‘Prominent figures in the US and UK deliberately talk down our country, and in particular our capital city.

‘Yet the latest evidence is clear – a record number of US citizens are now applying for citizenship here in the UK.

‘For many Americans I speak with, it’s because of our values that record numbers are applying to be citizens.

‘This includes our fundamental values like adhering to the rule of law, being proud of our diversity and championing the rights of minority communities.’

Trump’s latest trip to the UK follows his first state visit in June 2019, where he met the late Queen Elizabeth II and stayed in Winfield House.

Ahead of the major arrival of the US political titan, police and security services have been constructing a ring of steel around Windsor Castle.

The royal residence will host the President and First Lady overnight. No public-facing elements are expected to take place tonight. 

On Wednesday morning, the Prince and Princess of Wales will greet the Mr Trump and his wife in Windsor before joining them for a meeting with the King and Queen. 

Queen Camila had to pull out of attending the funeral of the Duchess of Kent earlier today due to ill health.

She is understood to be resting at Windsor Castle, after suffering from acute sinusitis. 

Camilla’s illness has raised questions over what part she will be able to play in Mr Trump’s high-stakes visit. 

Mr Trump’s first UK state visit took place June 2019, where he met the late Queen Elizabeth II and stayed in Winfield House

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will meet King Charles and Queen Camilla during their state visit this week (they are all pictured here in 2019)

However, royal sources have told the Daily Mail that Her Royal Highness is still expected to attend the event tomorrow.  

As well as praising the King ahead of his visit, the US President also hailed Sir Keir Starmer ahead of the visit, saying he represents the UK ‘so well’.

It comes after Lord Mandelson was dismissed as US ambassador. 

Speaking during a debate on the cutting of Lord Mandelson, Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty insisted the PM was ‘focused on deepening our special relationship with the United States’.

‘The Prime Minister and this Government are focused on deepening our special relationship with the United States in the interests of people across the Atlantic, for jobs, for growth, for prosperity, for security, for our defence,’ Mr Doughty told MPs.

‘That relationship with the United States is a relationship that has endured, is enduring and will endure for the prosperity and security of our peoples well into the future.’

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch had earlier intervened to further press the Government to apologise to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims.

She said: ‘Will he take this opportunity to apologise to the victims? He has not done so, the Government has not done so.’

Mr Doughty said he has made ‘very clear our position on Epstein’s victims and our horror at the revelations’.