On Friday, First Lady Melania Trump offered a sneak peek into the White House preparations for the highly anticipated visit from King Charles, releasing a rare behind-the-scenes video.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are scheduled to visit the United States from April 27 to April 30, marking the King’s inaugural trip to the U.S. since ascending to the British throne. This visit will also coincide with President Trump’s first state dinner at the White House during his second term.
In a stylish black-and-white video shared on her @FirstLadyOffice social media account, Melania Trump is shown meticulously reviewing documents, examining invitations, and considering options for place settings and floral arrangements.
The video is captioned with the words “Precision in every detail,” emphasizing the careful planning involved in the event.
The post is adorned with American and British flag emojis, along with the date of the state dinner, April 28, underscoring the significance of the upcoming occasion.
The post includes emojis for the American and British flag and the date of the state dinner – April 28.
The video hints that the state dinner will take place within the White House – likely in the East Room or the State Dining Room space.
The President has used the upcoming royal visit to push for his White House ballroom project, mocking previous administrations for hosting state dinners on the South Lawn in tents.
The First Lady’s office released a short teaser video on Friday that showed First Lady Melania Trump preparing for King Charles’ state dinner, which will take place in late April
The video showed possible flowers for the state visit (left) and a glimpse of a place setting (right) as the Trumps entertain the British royals for a state visit from April 27 through 30
That became commonplace especially when the dinners were planned by Democratic First Ladies Michelle Obama and Jill Biden.
‘Many of you have gone to the tent when we have a president of a big country or somebody being honored of great distinction,’ Trump told reporters Tuesday.
‘And they sit in a tent, and if it rains, you get soaked, because the grass gets wet here very fast.’
Trump then brought up Charles’ visit.
‘We don’t want him to sit in a pool of water,’ the President said.
There was some speculation that the President and First Lady would host the British royals off-campus in Washington due to the ballroom construction.
Currently, large cranes loom over the White House.
Trump has told audiences at the White House that the First Lady has complained about the construction noise.
President Gerald Ford (right) toasts Queen Elizabeth (center) alongside Vice President Nelson Rockefeller (left) under a tented Rose Garden at the royal’s bicentennial state visit in 1976
President Donald Trump (center right) hosted Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison (center left) for a state dinner in the Rose Garden in September 2019. He refused to use a tent
Additionally, the traditional entryway for state dinner guests, the ‘booksellers’ hall, was demolished along with the rest of the East Wing in October.
There’s some precedent for hosting state dinners away from the White House.
First Lady Jackie Kennedy did so in July 1961 when she took over George Washington’s estate, Mount Vernon, located across the Potomac in Virginia.
It marked the first time a state dinner was held outside of Washington, DC.
This dinner, however, was held under a tent.
Queen Elizabeth was previously hosted at the White House for a tented dinner.
During a July 1976 visit, her state dinner, hosted by President Gerald Ford, was held under a tent in the White House Rose Garden.
Trump used the Rose Garden for a state dinner too, when he hosted Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison for a visit in September 2019.
But Trump, no fan of tents, had the early fall dinner in the open air, and lucked out with the weather.
