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Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats in Britain, said President Trump does not deserve the “diplomatic coup” of hosting the king for a state visit.
March 9, 2026, 9:21 a.m. ET
Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats party in Britain, called on King Charles III to cancel his state visit to the United States in protest of what Mr. Davey calls President Trump’s “illegal war” against Iran.
Mr. Davey urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to advise the king to call off the trip, which is expected to take place next month as part of celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. A specific date has not been announced.
“At a time when Trump has launched an illegal war that is devastating the Middle East and pushing up energy bills for British families, it’s clear this visit should not go ahead,” Mr. Davey said in a statement on Monday.
“A state visit from our King would be seen as yet another huge diplomatic coup for President Trump, so it should not be given to someone who repeatedly insults and damages our country.”
Buckingham Palace said that no state visit has been confirmed and that all state visits happen on the advice of the government. But government officials have previously indicated that planning was underway for the king to travel to the United States in late spring.
A spokesman for Mr. Starmer declined to comment. Steve Reed, a Labour Party lawmaker and a minister in the prime minister’s cabinet, told the BBC, “I don’t think it is for Ed Davey to decide what the King should or should not be doing.”
