The Queen and President Trump inspect the Coldstream Guards at Windsor Castle before having tea Matt Dunham/AFP/Getty

Prince Charles and Prince William were unwilling to meet Donald Trump on his visit to Britain, leaving the Queen to greet the US president alone.

The first two in line to the throne let it be known during informal discussions about the arrangements for the president’s four-day trip that they did not want to take part.

Downing Street and Buckingham Palace said Trump’s tour was not a state visit and that the only plan drawn up involved the Queen greeting the president and his wife Melania alone. However, a well-placed source said senior courtiers discussed which royals to include and shared concerns about Charles’s and William’s reluctance to participate.

A well-placed source said Charles and William “simply refused to attend” Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty

“This business of Prince Charles and Prince William not being there for the Trump visit was…