Palace to use THIS senior royal as secret weapon with 'golf diplomacy'
PRINCE ANDREW will follow Donald Trump across London during his state visit in an attempt to defuse any diplomatic disasters during the US President’s trip.
The Duke of York is an expert at Mr Trump’s favourite sport of golf and is trained to a professional level. In what has been dubbed ‘the golf course diplomacy’, the Queen’s son will try to defuse potential issues by talking about the pairs favourite sport. Prince Andrew met the President 20 years ago at the Mar-a-Lago estate Mr Trump owns in Palm Springs and Florida and British officials hope the two will strike conversation from the offset.
The Prince will meet Mr Trump on Monday in a visit to Westminster Abbey before accompanying him to a meeting of business experts in St James Palace on Tuesday.
The Duke worked with UK Trade & Investment between 2001 and 2011 and founded the Pitch@Palace initiative to support entrepreneurs in 2014 meaning that he, like Mr Trump, has met many leaders from the world of business.
Officials are concerned about Donald Trump breaking protocol and causing diplomatic chaos while he is in the country. Just yesterday, the President backed Conservative leadership candidate Boris Johnson to take over as Britain’s next Prime Minister and remarked that Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage should have a seat at the negotiating table as he is a “very smart person”.
The President will meet Prince Charles and Camilla during the trip which could cause controversy over climate change. Mr Trump has been vocal against climate change which will clash heavily with the Prince of Wales who is passionate about environmental concerns.
Meghan Markle will not meet her President as she is still on maternity leave after giving birth to first child, Archie Harrison, last month.
Yesterday Mr Trump claimed he didn’t know the Duchess was "nasty” after he found out about comments made by the former TV star before she became a member of the Royal Family.
Meghan heavily supported Hillary Clinton’s campaign in the run-up to the 2016 election and said that she would leave the country if Mr Trump won.
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The President will stay at the twelve and a half acre residence of the US ambassador at Winfield House in Regents Park. But security teams have erected an eight foot high fence after fears of mass protests at the arrival.
American and British flags have been draped along the traditional processional route of The Mall but this will be snubbed for Mr Trump due to security concerns. Furthermore, the official welcome will be held at Buckingham Palace instead of its traditional location at Horse Guards Parade.
Some 20,000 police officers will be deployed across 18 separate protest events at an estimated cost of £18 million.