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Trump arrives in Windsor to meet King and Queen on state visit King and Trump hail UK-US special relationship in banquet speech
(about 7 hours later)
Watch: Pomp, pageantry and protests as Trump gets the royal treatment in Windsor
King Charles has commended President Trump's personal commitment to "finding solutions to some of the world's most intractable conflicts", as he called for US support for Ukraine against "tyranny", in a speech at the US state visit banquet.
In response, President Trump hailed the special relationship between the US and the UK, saying the word "special does not begin to do it justice".
The King's speech, at a lavish dinner for 160 guests in Windsor Castle, emphasised the deep connections between the two countries and the need to maintain cultural, trading and military links.
"Our people have fought and died together for the values we hold dear," said the King.
The state visit will continue on Thursday, including Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales at events with the First Lady Melania Trump.
It will move from a royal spectacle to political talks and a news conference, as Trump travels to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his country house, Chequers.
The president and first lady were greeted by the Prince and Princess of WalesThe president and first lady were greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales
US President Donald Trump has received a lavish ceremonial welcome from King Charles and senior royals in Windsor, on the first full day of his state visit to the UK. The state banquet on Wednesday came at the end of a day of pageantry and politics, where the president was welcomed to Windsor by the King, Queen and a line up of senior royals.
The president and First Lady Melania Trump stepped out of ornate carriages inside the castle's scenic quadrangle, before an inspection of troops on perfectly-prepared lawns. When they arrived, President and Melania Trump stepped out of ornate carriages inside the castle's scenic quadrangle, before an inspection of troops on perfectly-prepared lawns.
Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales were also there to welcome the US visitors, as a band played the Stars and Stripes in this royal charm offensive, which has seen gifts, parades and a flypast. The Prince and Princess of Wales were also there to welcome the US visitor in this royal charm offensive, holding a "warm and friendly" private meeting with President and Melania Trump.
Trump's historic second state visit has already been a crowded mix of royal pageantry, trade talks and international politics. In his banquet speech, the president praised Prince William saying he would be an "unbelievable success in the future" and called Catherine "radiant and so healthy and so beautiful".
There seemed to be friendly moments between the King and President Trump as they watched the ceremonial parade. Trump's historic second state visit showed a good relationship between the King and president, including some friendly moments as they watched the ceremonial parade.
The King jokingly seemed to be warning the president to watch out for the sword of one of the soldiers on parade.The King jokingly seemed to be warning the president to watch out for the sword of one of the soldiers on parade.
President Trump was treated to a military showcase inside Windsor CastlePresident Trump was treated to a military showcase inside Windsor Castle
President Trump showed great interest when he was shown around St George's Chapel, saying: "What a place, what a place" and looking at the Royal Collection's historic documents about US independence, he commented: "The real deal."President Trump showed great interest when he was shown around St George's Chapel, saying: "What a place, what a place" and looking at the Royal Collection's historic documents about US independence, he commented: "The real deal."
There was a private meeting too between President Trump and the Prince and Princess of Wales. When the president arrived at Windsor, he appeared to tell Catherine that she looked "beautiful".
The president has been a long-time admirer of the late Queen Elizabeth and he laid a wreath and paid his respects at her tomb in Windsor.The president has been a long-time admirer of the late Queen Elizabeth and he laid a wreath and paid his respects at her tomb in Windsor.
And official gifts were exchanged: And official gifts were exchanged, including giving the visting president the flag that was flying over Buckingham Palace on the day of Trump's inauguration in January 2025.
President Trump was given a leather volume celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US declaration of independence and the flag that was flying over Buckingham Palace on the day of Trump's inauguration in January 2025. State visits are a form of soft power diplomacy, using royal hospitality to build relations with important international partners - with none more important than the US.
Melania Trump was given an Anya Hindmarch handbag and a silver bowl made by Northern Irish artist, Cara Murphy. That includes business links, with more heads of technology firms at the state banquet than celebrities, such as Apple's Tim Cook and Sam Altman of the artificial intelligence firm, OpenAI.
The King was given a symbolic reminder of the military alliance between the UK and US, with a replica of President Eisenhower's sword. Alongside the state visit, there had been £150bn of US investment announced into the UK, including £22bn from Microsoft.
For Queen Camilla, there was the gift of a Tiffany gold, diamond and ruby brooch. The Princess of Wales, Queen Camilla and Melania Trump met in the grounds of Windsor
The Queen is playing a full part in the visit, having recovered from a health problem, acute sinusitis, which saw her missing the Duchess of Kent's funeral on Tuesday. Press baron Rupert Murdoch was at the banquet, sitting next to the prime minister's adviser Morgan McSweeney, at the dinner where guests were given a main course of Norfolk organic chicken.
In response to the drizzly weather, the carriages were covered over for their procession around the Windsor estate. As well as hailing the value of the US and UK's partnership, the King stressed the importance of protecting the environment, saying there was a "precious opportunity to safeguard and to restore the wonders and beauty of nature for the generations who follow us".
Some of the most senior figures in Trump's administration - including his Secretary of State Marco Rubio and overseas envoy Steve Witkoff - also took part in the carriage parade.
The King and President Trump had a carriage ride into Windsor CastleThe King and President Trump had a carriage ride into Windsor Castle
It's been a day of events intended to make a positive impression on the president, in a shock-and-awe display of pageantry. The banquet concluded a day of events intended to make a positive impression on the president, in a shock-and-awe display of pageantry.
With 1,300 service men and women from the Army, Royal Navy and RAF taking part, this was the largest ever guard of honour planned for a state visit to the UK.With 1,300 service men and women from the Army, Royal Navy and RAF taking part, this was the largest ever guard of honour planned for a state visit to the UK.
The much bigger than usual military line-up for the state visit comes as the UK government wants to encourage the US to maintain its commitment to Nato and support Ukraine. The much bigger than usual military line-up for the state visit was the UK government's message to encourage the US to maintain its commitment to Nato and support Ukraine.
But unlike other recent state visits, there are no moments visible to the public, with all the events taking place behind the walls of the Windsor estate or at the PM's country estate, Chequers. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer joined Trump to watch a flypast by the Red Arrows over Windsor, although a planned flypast by F-35 fighter jets was stopped by poor weather conditions.
A protest against the visit is being held in London, but there were also anti-Trump placards in Windsor, out of sight from the US visitors. The royal spectacle seemed to have appealed to the president, who described his state visit as one of the "highest honours" of his life.
Protesters included the anti-monarchy group Republic, whose chief executive, Graham Smith said: "It's time to fix our democracy and defend the country from those who might want to undermine what democratic rights we have, whether that be Charles or Trump."
There were protesters against the Trump state visit in Windsor
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America's unofficial party house where presidents stay in LondonAmerica's unofficial party house where presidents stay in London
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer joined Trump to watch a flypast by the Red Arrows over Windsor, although a planned flypast by F-35 fighter jets was stopped by poor weather conditions. There were protesters against the Trump state visit in Windsor
The visit's centrepiece will be the spectacular banquet in St George's Hall later on Wednesday, with speeches by King Charles and Trump and a menu that is likely to be a culinary representation of the special relationship, with UK and US food. But unlike other recent state visits, there were no moments visible to the public, with all the events taking place behind the walls of the Windsor estate or at the PM's country estate, Chequers.
Such spectacles will be aimed at pleasing a president who has spoken of his enthusiasm for royalty - and alongside the pageantry and photo opportunities, there will be efforts to influence the US president over trade and international co-operation. A protest against the visit was held in London, but there were also anti-Trump placards in Windsor, out of sight from the US visitors.
The Princess of Wales, Queen Camilla and Melania Trump met in the grounds of Windsor Protesters included the anti-monarchy group Republic, whose chief executive, Graham Smith said: "It's time to fix our democracy and defend the country from those who might want to undermine what democratic rights we have, whether that be Charles or Trump."
Trump sent positive signals ahead of his journey to the UK aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, calling the visit an "honour" and describing his "very good" relationship with the UK.
A multi-billion US technology investment deal was announced as the visit got under way - but Trump said the trip's main purpose was to see "my friend" King Charles.
"He represents the country so well, such an elegant gentleman," he said.
Trump and King Charles during the procession through the Windsor estate
Trump and Melania landed at London Stansted Airport on Tuesday for a historic second visit to the UK
State visits are a form of soft power diplomacy, using the royal charm offensive to build relations with important international partners - with none more important than the US.
As the visit got under way, a major technology deal was announced with US tech firms investing £31bn in the UK, including £22bn from Microsoft.
This will see co-operation in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and nuclear power, in a tech deal which Sir Keir Starmer hopes will begin "creating highly skilled jobs, putting more money in people's pockets".
Trump had earlier said that the UK "want to see if they can refine the trade deal a little bit… I'm into helping them.
Ahead of the visit, the owner of Google, Alphabet, announced a £5bn ($6.8bn) investment in the UK's artificial intelligence research.
And an agreement is to be signed between the US and UK on accelerating the development of nuclear power.
But ambitions to remove the current 25% tariff on UK steel exports to the US seem to have been put on hold - although this remains lower than the 50% tariff facing many other countries.
Images of Jeffrey Epstein with Donald Trump were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday evening
Anti-Trump protestors had gathered in Windsor on Tuesday - and giant images of Donald Trump and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to the walls of Windsor Castle.
Thames Valley Police later said four men had been arrested following an "unauthorised projection" and remained in custody.
A heavy security operation will be in place during the presidential visit, which ends on Thursday afternoon.
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