Donald Trump state visit postponed to 2018

May and Trump - PA

Donald Trump's state visit to the UK has been postponed until next year, it has been confirmed.

Senior Downing Street sources last night admitted to Holyrood's sister site Politics Home that the original plan for it to happen this summer has officially been ditched.

Theresa May passed on the invitation from the Queen to the US president when she visited the White House in January.

In a follow-up phone call on Valentine's Day, the Prime Minister told him she looked forward to him coming to Britain "later this year".

Doubt was cast on the trip last month when Number 10 refused to deny reports that President Trumps had asked for a delay amid fears the visit could be marred by protests.

Speculation mounted when there was no mention of the state visit in the Queen's Speech.

A senior Government source last night finally conceded that President Trump's visit will definitely not take place until next year.

"We couldn't find a suitable date this year, so he will be coming next year instead," said the source.

However, they insisted that he could make a more low-key visit to London before the end of this year if he is in Europe on other business.

A Number 10 spokesman said: "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."