Prince William to attend World Cup months after King's US state visit
Royal double act aims to boost special relationship as trade talks continue with Trump administration
The Prince of Wales is expected to visit the US next year, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence (Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror/PA)
Diplomats are said to hope a double-pronged charm offensive from the royal family can help keep the special relationship intact.
Outbound visits from British royals tend to have fewer political pitfalls than receiving US presidents during state visits, and the government is understood to hope both visits can be used to seal a full US-UK trade deal with Trump.
The trade deal must be secured as soon as possible next year, before the president shifts his focus to campaigning for the American midterm elections in November.
Keir Starmer is not thought to be accompanying the King on his visit, with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper attending on behalf of the government.
For the 200th anniversary of US independence in 1976, the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York for a six-day trip. The royal couple attended a White House state dinner hosted by Gerald Ford.
In her Christmas broadcast that year, the Queen said: "This year we went to America to join in their bicentennial celebrations. Who would have thought 200 years ago that a descendent of King George III could have taken part in these celebrations?
"Yet that same King was among the first to recognise that old scores must be settled and differences reconciled.
"The United States was born in bitter conflict with Britain but we didn't remain enemies for long."
