LONDON: US President Donald Trump was formally welcomed to the United Kingdom on Wednesday by King Charles III at Windsor Castle, in a ceremony filled with military splendour and royal pageantry marking the start of his second state visit to Britain.
The arrival featured a 41-gun salute, a ceremonial guard of honour, mounted cavalry, and traditional bagpipe performances. UK officials described it as the largest state welcome in recent memory, with 1,300 military personnel and 120 horses taking part.
Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, was greeted warmly by Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, before meeting the King and Queen Camilla on the castle grounds.
The president and the monarch exchanged jokes as they inspected the troops, after which the US national anthem was played.
The Trumps and the royals later joined a carriage procession through the Windsor estate before proceeding indoors to view items from the Royal Collection and share lunch.
The day’s events will culminate in a white-tie state banquet, where Trump and Charles are expected to deliver speeches.
Trump expressed affection for Britain, saying: A lot of things here warm my heart, while also describing Charles, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, as my friend.
This is the first time a US president has been accorded two UK state visits. Trump last received similar honours in 2019 under Queen Elizabeth II.
On Thursday, he is expected to attend a joint US-UK flypast, featuring F-35 fighter jets and the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows display team a first of its kind.
The president will also lay a wreath at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in 2022.
Despite the lavish welcome, Trump’s visit is taking place behind tight security. Public appearances have been kept out of sight as opinion polls suggest he remains unpopular among Britons.
Protests are planned in London, and police said four people were arrested Tuesday night after projecting images of Trump and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle walls.
The spectre of Epstein continues to cast a shadow over both Trump and the British royal family, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces domestic challenges, including the controversial dismissal of UK ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson over Epstein-related links.
Starmer will host Trump on Thursday at his official country residence, Chequers, where discussions will cover trade, security, and international crises.
The talks come alongside positive economic news, with UK pharmaceutical giant GSK announcing a $30 billion investment in the US over the next five years.
While Britain’s government hopes the royal soft-power display will strengthen ties and keep Trump onside on global issues, analysts note that his unpredictability on foreign policy from tariffs to conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza remains a source of international concern.
