London
CNN
–
What – or in this case, who – was conspicuously absent from the Queen’s speech in Parliament? US President Donald Trump.
Trump’s planned state visit to Britain Earlier this year British Prime Minister Theresa May announced – It was not mentioned by Queen Elizabeth II in it speech at the opening of parliament There is more speculation about whether the yatra will take place on Wednesday or not.
May offered a state visit during a bilateral meeting with the US President shortly after his inauguration. State visits are typically characterized by pomp and ceremony, and usually include a banquet with the Queen.
The invitation has proved incredibly controversial in the UK, where More than 1.8 million people signed a petition Wanted to stop Trump’s visit for fear that it would “embarrass Her Majesty.”
Earlier this month, UK media reports suggested that the US president had told Prime Minister May that he would not travel to the UK due to a lack of public support. Those reports were later denied. white house.
British newspaper Guardian reported that Trump had disclosed his unease about the trip during talks with May, citing a Downing Street adviser who was in the room.
A senior Trump administration source denied that the topic came up when Trump and May spoke after the British general election.
READ MORE: Queen’s speech reveals Brexit-heavy agenda
After the lapse on Wednesday, a senior Trump administration official told CNN: “She did not mention (the visit) because the date has not yet been set.”
A Downing Street spokeswoman told CNN there was “no change” in her condition during her state visit.
“The invitation to visit the state has been extended and it has not been mentioned in the speech as no date has been fixed yet,” the number 10 spokesperson said.
The Queen mentioned the upcoming state visit of King Felipe of Spain in July.
While Wednesday’s speech is being used by some as a sign that Trump’s state visit is off the cards, recent history may indicate otherwise.
ns Queen’s speech in 2013 No mention was made of the state visit of President Park Geun-hye to South Korea. and in 2012, the queen failed to mention the state visits of both Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
.