Donald Trump basked in royal splendour yesterday as King Charles III hosted the U.S. president for a lavish state visit at Windsor Castle.
By Cicero – Windsor, 18 September 2025.
It was the second such honour for Trump, making him the first elected politician ever to receive two British state welcomes — a point he described as “one of the highest honours of my life.”
The day unfolded with all the pageantry Britain could muster. A carriage procession escorted the Trumps through Windsor’s historic streets, lined with 1,300 service personnel. At the castle, the president and First Lady Melania Trump were treated to displays of military pomp and a flypast by the Red Arrows. F-35 fighter jets, intended as a nod to Anglo-American defence ties, were grounded by poor weather.
A Gushing Tribute to the King
At the evening banquet inside Windsor Castle, Trump delivered an effusive tribute to King Charles, calling the monarch a “very, very special man” and hailing the “priceless and eternal” bond between the U.S. and Britain.
“The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is irreplaceable and unbreakable,” he said, adding that the term “special relationship” barely did justice to the depth of transatlantic ties.
Charles responded with a nod to commerce and shared interests: “The United Kingdom was your partner in the first trade deal of your administration, Mr President, bringing jobs and growth to both our countries. And no doubt we can go even further as we build this new era of our partnership.”
Starmer’s Royal Gamble
For Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who extended the state invitation, the visit is as much about economics as symbolism. His government is seeking to secure billions of dollars in U.S. investment, deepen trade agreements, and press Trump on foreign policy concerns including Ukraine and the Middle East.
Tech giants Microsoft, Nvidia, Google and OpenAI have already pledged £31 billion for UK ventures in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and civil nuclear energy. Talks are expected to address tariffs still imposed on British steel, whisky and salmon.
But the strategy is not without risk. Trump remains deeply unpopular with much of the British public, and Starmer himself is struggling with declining poll ratings and domestic economic strains.
Protests and Awkward Shadows
While crowds of supporters gathered in Windsor, thousands of demonstrators also marched in London to denounce Trump’s presence. “I quite simply dislike everything that Trump and his administration represent around the globe,” said Bryan Murray, a retired protester from Kent.
Security was tight throughout the visit. Four people were arrested after activists projected images of Trump with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle’s walls. Trump was not present at the time, but the stunt underscored lingering controversies.
Only last week Starmer was forced to dismiss Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington over his links to Epstein. Meanwhile, Rupert Murdoch — attending the banquet as a guest — remains locked in a $10 billion defamation battle with Trump’s legal team over an article connecting the president to Epstein.
Further tensions may yet surface: The Times reported that Britain intends to formally recognise a Palestinian state after Trump’s departure, a move that Washington opposes.
Ceremony and Symbolism
The Trumps also paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, laying a wreath on her tomb at St George’s Chapel, where the late monarch had hosted them during their first state visit in 2019.
There was a private meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales, which palace aides described as “warm and friendly.” Trump praised Catherine as “beautiful” and said Prince William was destined for “unbelievable success.”
As the king and president dined beneath the vaulted ceilings of Windsor Castle, it was clear the day belonged to spectacle and symbolism. Today, attention turns to Chequers, where Starmer hopes to convert royal pomp into political capital and secure tangible outcomes from America’s most unpredictable ally.
