King Charles III welcomed Donald Trump to Windsor Castle on Wednesday with a dazzling display of British pageantry, marking the US president’s unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom.
The ceremony — hailed by officials as the most elaborate of its kind in decades — featured a guard of honour with 1,300 troops, 120 horses, red tunics, gold-plumed helmets, and the stirring sounds of bagpipes.
As Trump shook hands with the king, six World War One-era guns fired a 41-gun salute on the castle’s east lawn, echoed by another volley at the Tower of London.
Heir to the throne Prince William and his wife, Catherine, warmly greeted Trump and First Lady Melania Trump upon their arrival by Marine One at Windsor.
The royals then escorted them to meet the king and Queen Camilla before a carriage procession swept through the castle grounds.
Inside the medieval stronghold, Trump and Charles inspected the troops, shared laughs, and stood to the US national anthem before joining the royals for a private luncheon.
Britain has pulled out all the stops to charm the unpredictable American leader, mindful of his sway over a host of global crises. Yet, Trump’s visit has been carefully choreographed away from public view, given his enduring unpopularity among Britons. “It’s quite sad that the public cannot see the president,” lamented Charlene Bryan, who travelled from London in hopes of catching a glimpse.
This trip cements Trump’s unique place in history as the first US president to receive two state visits. Later, he will witness an unprecedented joint flypast featuring US and UK F-35 fighter jets and the Royal Air Force’s famed Red Arrows.
He and Charles will also lay a wreath on Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb before capping the day with a glittering white-tie banquet inside Windsor Castle.
Calling Charles “my friend,” Trump said the welcome “warmed his heart.” The 79-year-old Republican also noted his personal ties to Britain, through his Scottish-born mother and his two golf resorts in the country.
But beyond the pomp, shadows linger. Police detained four activists Tuesday night after they projected images of Trump and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle, reviving scandals that continue to haunt both the former president and the royal family. Protests in London were expected to draw thousands.
On Thursday, Trump will head to Chequers, the country retreat of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, where talks could prove both celebratory and contentious.
The mood may be lifted by UK pharmaceutical giant GSK’s announcement of a $30 billion investment in the US, though trade, tariffs, and foreign policy could quickly sour the discussions.
For now, however, Britain is betting on the power of ceremony, hoping Trump departs with fond memories of royal grandeur — and a willingness to keep transatlantic ties on steady ground.
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