US President Donald Trump's proposed state visit to the UK this year looks in doubt after Queen Elizabeth II did not make a reference to it in her traditional speech today that marks the opening of the UK Parliament.
Thestatevisit, which was expected around August/September and according to some reports even October this year,has been at the centre of a number of protests and controversy.
There had been speculation that the visit may be postponed this year to avoid Trump being greeted by protesters outside Downing Street.
The Queen's Speech only contained a reference to welcoming King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain in July even though British Prime Minister Theresa May had extended an invitation for a state visit to the US President on behalf of the British monarch during her visit to Washington in January, which had been accepted.
"An invitation has been extended and accepted. The visit wasn't mentioned in the Queen's Speech because a date hasn't been fixed yet," a Downing Street statement said today.
But given that the Queen's Speech usually mentions all state visits planned for the duration of the Parliament, indicates the visit may have been put off indefinitely.
White House, however, denied that the Queen's Speech indicated that the state visit had been cancelled.
"That is not what she said. She only talked about visits with confirmed dates and we do not yet have a confirmed date," a spokesperson said.
There has been considerable opposition in the UK over Trump being accorded all the pomp and pageantry associated with a state visit.
An online petition against such a visit had attracted over 100,000 signatures earlier this year and debated in the House of Commons as a result.
There have also been spats between Trump and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, most recently after in the aftermath of London terrorist attacks earlier this month.
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