The President of the United States, President Donald J. Trump, accompanied by the First Lady Mrs. Melania Trump are currently in the UK for an official State Visit as the guests of Their Majesties The King and Queen.
The President and First Lady arrived in the grounds of Windsor Castle and were greeted by The Prince and Princess of Wales who accompanied them to meet Their Majesties. The King and Queen formally welcomed The President and First Lady outside, as a Royal Salute was fired from the East Lawn of Windsor Castle and at the Tower of London.
Thereafter, The President and First Lady joined The King and Queen, and The Prince and Princess of Wales, in a Carriage Procession through the Windsor estate, towards the Castle. The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment provided a Sovereign’s Escort for the Carriage Procession. The route was lined by members of the Armed Forces, with three military bands from the Royal Marines, the Army and the RAF.
On arrival at the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle, a Guard of Honour, with the State Colours of the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards greeted the party. This is the first time at such an occasion that three State Colours featured. Conventionally, only one colour would be on parade. The President and First Lady then joined The King and Queen on the Royal Dais before The President, accompanied by The King, was invited to inspect the Guard of Honour.
Following lunch in the State Dining Room with Members of the Royal Family, Their Majesties invited The President and First Lady to view a special display of items from the Royal Collection relating to the United States of America, in the Green Drawing Room. In the afternoon, The President and Mrs. Trump visited St George’s Chapel, Windsor, to privately lay a wreath on the Tomb of Queen Elizabeth II. The President and First Lady were then given a short tour of the chapel and heard a musical performance from the chapel choir.
Later, The President and First Lady joined The King and Queen, The Prime Minister and Lady Starmer and US and British military families to view a Beating Retreat ceremony on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle. The ceremony included a flypast by UK and US F-35 military jets and the Red Arrows. In the evening, The King, accompanied by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family, hosted a State Banquet in St George’s Hall for The President and First Lady. During the banquet, both The King and President Trump made speeches. His Majesty referenced the ‘enduring bond between our great nations’ during his speech to assembled guests who included diplomats, sports stars and tech leaders.
United in freedom, security, and a vision for the future
At Windsor Castle, King Charles warmly welcomed President and Mrs. Trump on the occasion of their second State Visit. He described the visit as a reflection of the enduring “special relationship” between the United States and the United Kingdom – a bond rooted in friendship, tested in war, and strengthened through shared innovation, trade, and culture.
Looking ahead to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, he noted how unimaginable today’s close alliance would have been for George Washington and King George III, yet how profoundly it has developed. The King highlighted the common language, heritage, and the deep ties of people living on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as the flourishing of cultural connections.
He recalled America’s ingenuity and principles of freedom, celebrating decades of his own visits and personal admiration. He stressed that the partnership spans science, technology, trade, and culture, citing achievements from mapping the human genome to building the internet.
On defence and security, Charles underlined that Britain and America have the closest intelligence and military cooperation in history. He drew parallels from fighting tyranny in two World Wars to today’s united support for Ukraine and partnerships like AUKUS. He also praised joint efforts for peace and environmental stewardship, emphasizing the duty to preserve natural treasures for future generations.
Concluding, the King reaffirmed the unshakeable trust between the two nations and their shared commitment to liberty and independence, before raising a toast to the President, the First Lady, and the people of the United States.
Honouring the special bond between America and Britain
In his remarks at the Windsor Castle state banquet, Donald Trump emphasized that attending a second British state banquet was among the greatest honours of his life. He underlined the “special relationship” between the United States and the United Kingdom, describing the bond as “priceless and eternal” – irreplaceable and unbreakable.
Trump spoke about the historical depth of this alliance, referring to the shared struggles and values that have tied the two nations together across generations. He mentioned Winston Churchill as a symbol of the enduring spirit of freedom that continues to inspire both countries.
A significant part of the speech was devoted to praising King Charles III. Trump called the King a “very, very special man” who, in his words, “puts the ‘great’ back into Great Britain.” He highlighted the King’s devotion to his people and noted that Britain’s resilience and leadership are admired worldwide.
The President closed his speech by reaffirming America’s profound respect for the United Kingdom, expressing his hope that the alliance will remain strong, the friendship close, and the future bright.
