Britain hosted Donald Trump on Wednesday with an elaborate display of pomp and ceremony as the US president arrived for an unprecedented second state visit, one staged under heavy security.
Trump and First Lady Melania were warmly received at Windsor Castle by Prince William and his wife Catherine shortly after Marine One touched down at 12:15 pm (1115 GMT). Shielded from vocal protesters, the royal couple escorted the Trumps to meet King Charles III and Queen Camilla, launching Britain’s full charm offensive.
As Trump shook hands with the monarch, a 41-gun salute thundered across the castle’s east lawn, mirrored by another at the Tower of London. The spectacle featured 120 horses and more than 1,300 military personnel, which officials described as the grandest state welcome in living memory.
The royals and their guests then embarked on a carriage procession across the Windsor estate, drawing on centuries of tradition. Britain is keen to impress Trump with a lavish show, hoping to strengthen ties amid pressing international issues. But the entire ceremony was staged away from the public, reflecting Trump’s poor standing among many Britons.
“It’s quite sad that the public cannot see the president,” said Charlene Bryan, who travelled from London for the occasion.
Wednesday’s welcome surpassed even Trump’s first state visit in 2019 under Queen Elizabeth II. He remains the only US president to receive two state visits. His itinerary includes laying a wreath at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II, attending a joint UK-US fighter jet flypast featuring F-35s and the Red Arrows, and closing the day with a white-tie banquet at Windsor.
The lavish hospitality appears tailored to Trump’s well-known fascination with British royalty and spectacle. Earlier this year, he even posted “LONG LIVE THE KING!” about himself on social media, followed by a mock magazine cover showing him wearing a crown.
Still, questions linger over whether Britain’s red-carpet welcome will sway a leader known for unpredictability on issues ranging from trade to conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is banking on royal soft power to leave Trump with a favorable impression before his departure on Thursday.
Trump himself seemed upbeat, remarking that “a lot of things here warm my heart,” citing his Scottish roots and his ownership of two golf resorts in the country. He praised King Charles, who is undergoing cancer treatment, as “my friend.”
The visit offers Trump a temporary break from turmoil at home following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Yet controversy followed him to Windsor: police arrested four people after images of Trump and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein were projected onto the castle late Tuesday. The association with Epstein continues to cast a shadow over both Trump and Britain’s royal family.
On Thursday, Trump will hold talks with Starmer at the prime minister’s country residence, Chequers. The discussions may highlight both opportunities and strains, buoyed by pharmaceutical giant GSK’s pledge to invest $30 billion in the United States over the next five years, but complicated by Starmer’s recent dismissal of UK ambassador Peter Mandelson over ties to Epstein.
What you should know
Donald Trump became the first US president to receive two British state visits, welcomed with unprecedented pomp at Windsor Castle.
While Britain sought to dazzle him with royal pageantry and military spectacle, the visit unfolded under tight security and protests, reflecting his divisive image. The shadow of Epstein and tensions at home lingered throughout.
