The King’s state visit to the US to see Donald Trump is to go ahead next month as planned, with the move sparking criticism as the Government was accused of being “too weak to stand up to bullies”.

Charles and the Queen’s long-expected historic trip will take place in late April despite calls for it to be postponed or even cancelled because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

US president Mr Trump declared the trip will be “TERRIFIC!” and a “momentous occasion” in a post on his Truth Social, adding that there would be “a beautiful Banquet Dinner” at the White House on the evening of April 28.

He also revealed the “historic state visit” will take place over four days from April 27-30 – despite Buckingham Palace deciding not to release the exact dates in its own official announcement.

“I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!,” Mr Trump added.

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey condemned the decision to continue with the trip, and accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of showing a “staggering lack of backbone” while Mr Trump treated the UK with contempt.

Mr Trump has branded the UK’s approach to the Iran war “terrible” and repeatedly lashed out at Sir Keir, including describing him as “not Winston Churchill”, with the special relationship between the two allied nations appearing increasingly strained.

The official announcement from Buckingham Palace came less than an hour after Mr Trump told the UK to secure the Strait of Hormuz itself and “go get your own oil”.

It will be the King’s first visit to the US as monarch and the first state visit by a British sovereign to America for nearly 20 years, since Queen Elizabeth II’s tour in 2007.

State visits are undertaken on “the advice of His Majesty’s Government”, a fact with which the Palace began its official statement announcing the tour.