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What is Melania Trump doing in Europe?

The first lady will join her husband as he travels throughout the UK

Chris Riotta
New York
Wednesday 11 July 2018 18:17 BST
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Melania Trump is officially back on the world stage, joining her husband for a series of meetings with international allies across Europe.

The first lady landed in Brussels with Donald Trump on Tuesday night, just as Belgium was in the midst of a World Cup soccer match against France. She’s expected to travel with the president throughout the United Kingdom, visiting England and Scotland, as well as spend time with the spouses of world leaders included in the NATO summit.

"She's looking forward to building relationships and representing the United States," Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's spokeswoman, said in a statement. "But it's also very important to her that as she represents our country in a positive way abroad, she also pays respect to the host countries she is visiting."

Where is Melania Trump visiting?

The first lady attended an event in Brussels for the spouses of NATO members on Wednesday, before attending a formal dinner for the world leaders and their partners later that night.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband, Philip May, will host Ms Trump and the US president after they touch down in England. The couples will participate in a military ceremony and dinner held at the Blenheim Palace, according to the first lady’s itinerary.

Mr May will accompany Ms Trump on Friday afternoon as their spouses are also expected to meet for bilateral discussions. The prime minister said her husband purchased a new suit for the occasion.

U.S. first lady Melania Trump and France's first lady Brigitte Macron, Sweden Prime Minister's spouse Ulla Lofven, Belgian Prime Minister's partner Amelie Derbaudrenghien, Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar's partner, Mojca Stropnik, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev's partner Desislava Radeva, Turkey's first lady Emine Erdogan, Jens Stoltenberg's spouse Ingrid Schulerud, European Council President Donald Tusk's wife Malgorzata Sochacka, and Luxemburg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel's husband, Gauthier Destenay, pose for a picture after attending a concert at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Waterloo, Belgium July 11, 2018.

"He's looking forward to meeting Melania,” she told the Sunday Times. ”They were both at the G20 but because of timetables and so forth he wasn't able to meet her there. He has been out and bought a new suit.”

After a visit to the Royal Palace on Friday, the Trumps will depart for Scotland, where the president is expected to prepare for his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

What will the first lady do in Europe?

Ms Trump often visits children’s hospitals when traveling across the globe, though her itinerary doesn’t appear to list any scheduled trips to any medical facilities.

The first lady will continue promoting her Be Best campaign, however, which calls for the improvement of children’s health.

Melania Trump: "It's our generation's imperative to take responsibility for what our children learn"

She’s expected to appear at an event in the UK connected to Be Best, which is part of her effort to promote well-being and kindness abroad.

“She wants to speak with and exchange ideas around the importance of children's well-being all over the world,” Ms Grisham said in her statement.

The president’s meeting with Mr Putin occurs on Monday, though it remains unknown whether Ms Trump will join the event or make any additional public appearances in Scotland.

Her schedule does not list any public appearances for the following week, though it may be updated.

Melania and Donald will receive the royal treatment

Queen Elizabeth II will continue her tradition of meeting every single US president since 1952, except for Lyndon B Johnson.

The president and first lady are expected to be received by the queen on Friday evening. They’ll arrive at the Windsor Palace and be met with a welcoming ceremony and Royal Salute.

After inspecting the Guard of Honour, the Trumps will sit with the Queen over tea in her castle, before eventually departing to travel to Scotland.

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