WINDSOR, England — President Donald Trump basked in royal ceremony on Wednesday as the Trump UK state visit opened at Windsor Castle. King Charles III hosted the U.S. president with military honors, mounted troops, and gilded pageantry before a private tribute at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb.
Royal welcome at Windsor
Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived in Windsor, where Prince William and Princess Kate greeted them at the castle’s private Walled Garden. From there, they joined King Charles and Queen Camilla for a carriage procession. Soldiers in red tunics, sailors, and aviators lined the route as 120 horses and 1,300 troops staged the grandest guard of honor in decades.
The king and Trump rode together in the Irish State Coach, exchanging smiles and light remarks. In the castle quadrangle, Trump inspected the troops with Charles at his side. Unlike his first UK visit in 2019, when he walked ahead of Queen Elizabeth, this time Charles invited him to take the lead.
Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
Inside St. George’s Chapel, Trump placed a wreath at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb, honoring the late monarch. The couple then joined U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, chief of staff Susie Wiles, and other officials for a choral performance by the chapel’s choir.
The royal family later presented the Trumps with symbolic gifts. Charles and Camilla gave them a leather-bound volume celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the Union flag flown above Buckingham Palace during Trump’s inauguration. Melania received a silver bowl and a custom handbag. In return, Trump gave Charles a replica of an Eisenhower sword, while Camilla received a vintage Tiffany brooch.
Trump admires U.S.-UK history
During the Trump UK state visit, the president and King Charles toured a Royal Collection display of historic U.S.-British ties. Among the items were watercolors from the Revolutionary War era, messages exchanged during the first trans-Atlantic cable, and a glass vessel gifted by President Dwight Eisenhower.
“Wow,” Trump remarked as he viewed documents on U.S. independence. Charles nodded, calling the pieces “fascinating.”
The day also included the Beating Retreat, a 17th-century military parade accompanied by more than 200 musicians. Though rain grounded a planned F-35 jet flyover, the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows roared overhead, painting the sky in red, white, and blue smoke.
From pomp to politics
While pageantry dominated the opening day, diplomacy looms ahead. On Thursday, Trump will meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss a major U.K.-U.S. technology agreement. Britain hopes billions in American investment will strengthen the trans-Atlantic bond, even as differences persist over NATO, Ukraine, and the Middle East.
Officials see Windsor, with its medieval towers and manageable size, as a secure and photogenic venue. Hosting the Trump UK state visit outside London also reduces the scale of protests.
Still, demonstrators gathered in central London, chanting against Trump and carrying banners that read, “No to racism, no to Trump.” Smaller replicas of the infamous Trump “baby blimp” floated above the crowds, a throwback to his first state visit.
Political backdrop
The visit comes at a sensitive time for both countries. In the U.S., Trump faces questions about his administration’s approach to health and civil liberties, including vaccine policies that sparked the recent firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez.
In Britain, Prime Minister Starmer is managing fallout from the dismissal of Ambassador Peter Mandelson over ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Activist group Led By Donkeys projected an image of Trump with Epstein onto a Windsor Castle tower just days before the ceremony, prompting four arrests.
Despite the controversies, British officials hope the spectacle strengthens ties with a president whose “America First” policies often strain alliances.
Historic significance
No U.S. president has ever received two U.K. state visits. For Trump, who thrives on spectacle, Windsor’s grand setting underscored his unique status. Historian Robert Lacey noted that Windsor offers “a proper castle” with sweeping visuals compared to the currently under-renovation Buckingham Palace.
As the opening ceremonies closed, Trump prepared for a private lunch and an evening banquet with the royals. The warmth between Trump and King Charles suggested that, for at least one day, pageantry overshadowed politics.
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