No meeting with Queen – so no visit

DONALD Trump has shelved plans to open the new US embassy in London next month, according to reports.

Concerned about the welcome he would receive in the UK, the US President is understood to be sending Secretary of State Rex Tillerson instead.

The White House has yet to respond to The Independent’s request for comment.

Downing Street declined to comment.

Mr Trump had been due to come to London to open the new $A1 billion embassy, but was said to have abandoned the idea as he felt unhappy about the scale of the visit and the arrangements made.

He is said to be unhappy about the lack of “bells and whistles” surrounding the event and the fact he would not be able to meet the Queen.

The President had reportedly been due to meet with Prime Minister Theresa May at No.10 Downing Street, with February 26 and 27 provisionally scheduled in the diary.

Downing Street had hoped to firm up the dates this week, the Daily Mail reported.

Ms May controversially extended the offer of a state visit when she became the first world leader to meet Mr Trump in the White House following his inauguration last year.

Since then, however, the President has indicated he does not want to take up the invitation if he is going to face mass demonstrations.

Opposition to his visit meant the original plan for an official state visit, which would have included a chance for Mr Trump to meet the Queen, was downgraded to a “working visit”, carrying much less prestige.