Real reason why Prince Edward and Sophie are missing from Trump's UK state visit

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are noticeably absent from Donald Trump's state visit as they have both travelled abroad to undertake a series of important engagements. Prince Edward arrived in Papua New Guinea on September 14 and will be reunited with the Duchess tomorrow in Japan.

They will arrive in the country on Thursday, September 18 and remain there until Monday, September 22, to celebrate the good relationship between the UK and Japan. While in the country, the couple's engagements will focus on topics such as youth opportunity, sustainability and innovation, educating the next generation, and women in leadership.

As a result, the Duke and Duchess will miss Wednesday night's state banquet in St George's Hall, Windsor.

Prince Edward's tour of Papua New Guinea this week has seen him attend a dawn flag-raising ceremony and a State Dinner, to mark the occasion. On behalf of the King, he also presented new Regimental Colours to the First Royal Pacific Islands Regiment and also handed out the 50th Independence Anniversary King's Medals, which were given to those who have made significant contributions to the country.

This visit marked the first time the Duke has travelled to Papua New Guinea, with the last royal tour there being carried out by Princess Anne in 2022.

When the couple are reunited in Japan, they will visiti Osaka and Tokyo and undertake engagements on subjects such as women in leadership, sustainability and youth opportunity.

Elsewhere, the pair will attend EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Kansai. It will be Japan's largest international event this decade, the aim of which is to bring people and innovations together to address global issues.

The first day ofTrump's state visit saw him and the First Lady officially welcomed to Windsor by the Prince and Princess of Wales and formally introduced to the King and Queen.

After a carriage procession through the Windsor Estate and a spectacular military welcome, the Presidential couple joined members of the Royal Family for lunch.

After viewing items in the Royal Collection which are linked to the US, the President and First Lady visited St George's Chapel to lay a wreath at Queen Elizabeth II's tomb.

In a major departure from tradition, the President and First Lady then joined the King and Queen, the Prime Minister and Lady Starmer and US and British military families to view a Beating Retreat ceremony on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle.