WINDSOR, England—President Donald Trump opened a two-day state visit to the UK on Wednesday, calling the hours of pageantry with King Charles III “one of the highest honors of my life” while also making time for a quiet tribute at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb.
The U.S. president participated in the full range of ceremonial events, from the largest guard of honor in living memory—with 120 horses and 1,300 troops—to carriage rides, an air show, and a Windsor Castle state dinner.
After the pomp comes the real work Thursday, when Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meet to talk trade, technology, and geopolitical issues.
No U.S. president, or any other world leader, has had the honor of a second UK state visit; Trump's first was in 2019, during his previous term.
“This was the second state visit, and that’s the first, and maybe that’s going to be the last time, I hope it is actually,” Trump joked during the evening banquet.
The visit began with Prince William and his wife, Kate, meeting the presidential helicopter in the private Walled Garden on the vast Windsor estate, then walking Trump and First Lady Melania Trump over to be greeted by Charles and Queen Camilla. A gigantic royal standard, the flag used for official celebration days, flew from the Royal Tower.
The guests traveled to the castle in a procession of horse-drawn carriages, past ranks of soldiers, sailors and aviators. The king and the president chatted in the Irish State Coach during the short journey to the castle quadrangle, where both inspected an honor guard of soldiers in red tunics and bearskin hats.
They continued to chat and joke as the day progressed, with the king occasionally putting his hand on Trump’s back. The president stepped in front of Charles during a review of troops after the king gestured for him to do so.
Full Day of Pomp and Circumstance
The president and Charles toured the Royal Collection Display in an ornate room where officials laid out five tables of artifacts on U.S.–British relations.Among the items were 18th-century watercolors and documents on the United States seeking independence from King George III. There were materials from the first trans-Atlantic cable, including messages between Queen Victoria and President James Buchanan, as well as a 1930s hot dog picnic that a young Elizabeth wrote about, and a large glass vessel that President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave the queen during a 1957 state visit.
The president later walked a red carpet on the castle's East Lawn to watch the Beating Retreat, a military parade ceremony that featured 200-plus musicians, dates to the 1600s and was once used to call patrolling soldiers back to their castle at day's end.
A scheduled flyover by F-35 jets from the UK and U.S. militaries was scrapped because of poor weather conditions. But the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force’s aerobatics display team, thundered overhead, leaving streaks of red, white and blue smoke in their wake.
Charles and Camilla presented the president and first lady with a handbound leather volume celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, as well as the Union flag that flew above Buckingham Palace on the day of Trump’s inauguration in January. The royals also gave First Lady Melania Trump a silver and enamel bowl and a personalized handbag by British designer Anya Hindmarch.
Serious Talks Coming
In his talks with Trump, Starmer will promote a new UK–U.S. technology agreement. The British government hopes the deal, and billions in investment from U.S. tech companies, will help show that the trans-Atlantic bond remains strong despite differences over Ukraine, the Middle East, and the future of NATO.Ahead of the banquet, Trump and Charles walked together, leading a procession. Trump wore white tie, while his wife was in a yellow gown. Charles was in white tie with a blue sash, and Camilla in a blue gown with a tiara.
Beefeaters in traditional red uniforms and ruff collars lined the entrance to the castle’s St. George’s Hall for the dinner, which featured 100 staff members attending to 160 guests. The grand Waterloo table was set with 1,462 pieces of silver sparkling in the light from 139 candles and elaborate floral arrangements handpicked from the castle grounds.
The guests included Apple’s Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Open AI’s Sam Altman and golfer Nick Faldo. Also appearing was publishing mogul Rupert Murdoch, whom Trump recently sued for $10 billion over The Wall Street Journal's report on a sexually suggestive letter purportedly written by Trump for disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The menu featured Hampshire watercress panna cotta with Parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, along with Norfolk chicken ballotine. Dessert was vanilla ice cream bombe with a raspberry sherbet interior and lightly poached Victorian plums.
Trump avoids alcohol, but the bar offerings included a cocktail known as a trans-Atlantic whiskey sour infused with marmalade, Warre’s 1945 Vintage Port—Trump is the 45th and 47th American president—and Hennessy 1912 cognac Grande Champagne. That was the year Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in Scotland.
The musical playlist included the theme from the James Bond movies and pop and rock staples, as well as top show tunes, often featured at Trump’s campaign rallies.
In his toast, Charles saluted Trump’s British roots and his recent visits to the UK. In a nod to the president’s favorite sport, he said, “I understand that British soil makes for rather splendid golf courses.”
Trump called it "truly one of the highest honors of my life.” He also touched on Britain's contributions to literature, history and the arts and said “special” does not begin to do justice to his country's relationship with the UK.
“Together we’ve done more good for humanity than any two countries in all of history,” Trump said.