King Charles and President Donald Trump Are Both in Scotland — But Here’s Why They Won’t Be Meeting

King Charles III and President Donald Trump are both visiting Scotland this week — but the two leaders won’t be crossing paths until September.

President Trump, 79, spent the weekend at his Turnberry golf resort in South Ayrshire, where he was seen golfing with his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. During his visit, he hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to finalize a new trade agreement. After initial tariff threats from Trump, the two sides agreed to a 15% compromise — a deal widely viewed as a victory for the U.S. president.

The following day, Trump met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria, at the resort. The two leaders discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump told reporters he was setting a “new deadline of about 10 or 12 days” for Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to peace terms, stating, “There’s no reason in waiting… we just don’t see any progress being made.”

As with many of his visits to the U.K., Trump’s trip drew protesters. Signs criticizing Prime Minister Starmer and supporting Palestine were displayed near the Turnberry resort, while a truck in Aberdeen — close to Trump’s other golf course — projected a photo of the president with Jeffrey Epstein and read, “Welcome to Scotland, Donald.”

Meanwhile, King Charles, 76, was in northern Scotland for a very different reason. The monarch visited Dounreay in the Highlands to commemorate the 70th anniversary of two nuclear facilities that were once central to Britain’s nuclear research but are now being decommissioned.

Wearing a traditional red tartan kilt, the King visited Scrabster Harbour in Thurso, where he met with sea cadets and lifeboat volunteers, unveiled a plaque aboard the Pacific Heron nuclear transport vessel, and attended a reception for local residents.

Though they are both in Scotland, King Charles and President Trump are not scheduled to meet until September, when Trump returns to the U.K. for a formal state visit. The trip, scheduled for September 17–19, will mark Trump’s second state visit — the first being in 2019 during his previous term.

The invitation was extended earlier this year by Prime Minister Starmer and formally signed by the King in a “manu regia,” delivered to the White House by British officials in June. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be hosted by the royal family at Windsor Castle during the visit.

According to palace aides, the King has known President Trump “for many years” and looks forward to welcoming him. However, a report from The Daily Beast claims that some within the royal household are “very concerned” about Trump’s potential behavior during the visit, particularly after recent public criticisms of immigration in the U.K. and Canada.

Upon landing in Glasgow on Friday, Trump again addressed immigration in Europe.

“You better get your act together or you’re not going to have Europe anymore,” he warned. “This horrible invasion is killing Europe… Some leaders are doing a great job and not getting credit. I could name them, but I won’t embarrass the others.”

Despite the tension, officials on both sides are moving forward with preparations for the high-profile September visit.