The UK rolled out its finest pageantry for Donald Trump as the King and Queen welcomed the US president at the start of his historic – and controversial – second state visit.
The Prince and Princess of Wales also formed part of the royal charm offensive at Windsor Castle for the president, who has made no secret of enjoying the flattery of having British pomp laid on for him.
Mr Trump was treated to a gilded horse-drawn carriage ride through the Windsor estate and joined the King in inspecting honour guards, in the largest formal welcome for a state visit to the UK in living memory, with 1,300 members of the military.
But Mr Trump had kept the royal family waiting for the greeting, his Marine One helicopter – fitted with missile defence and radar jamming systems – landing in the castle grounds 20 minutes late.
The pageantry of the visit comes before crucial talks for prime minister Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday as he tries to get his government back on track, having been hit with the loss of deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and ambassador to the US Lord Mandelson.
As well as trying to show he is a player on the international stage, Sir Keir is still hoping for an improved trade deal even though talks on steel tariffs have been taken off the agenda at Chequers.
As the King, Queen, William and Catherine greeted the American leader and first lady Melania Trump, the president appeared to tell Kate: “You’re so beautiful, so beautiful.”
The setting of Victoria House, never used for an incoming state visit in modern times, was just one of several flourishes used to impress the controversial billionaire-turned-politician, who has vaunted his friendship with the King and Queen and revealed that he wanted photographs of himself with the royals to be seen worldwide.
Camilla rallied to join the engagements after pulling out of the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on Tuesday due to acute sinusitis.
The military pageantry on show for the grandeur-loving president was unprecedented. Lining the carriage procession route through the Windsor estate to the castle were 22 half-companies of personnel from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force, with 120 horses.
Inside the castle, the two couples exchanged gifts. In the Green Drawing Room, the president was shown a letter sent from president Abraham Lincoln to Queen Victoria in 1862 expressing his condolences on the death of Prince Albert.
Mr Trump said: “That is so amazing, that’s the real deal.”
In the afternoon, the Trumps visited St George’s Chapel in Windsor to lay a wreath at the final resting place of the late Queen, who hosted them in 2019.
After a brief tour of the chapel, during which the couple also saw Henry VIII’s vault, Mr Trump said: “This was a great honour.”
A flypast of four military jets over Windsor Castle was cancelled because of poor weather but a display by the Red Arrows went ahead.
The pageantry continued as a red carpet was rolled out on the East Lawn of the castle for the US president and first lady to accompany the King and Queen to watch a ceremony including 200 military musicians. The prime minister and his wife joined the guests there.
Mr Trump placed his hand on the King’s arm more than once during the day.
The president is the guest of honour at a lavish white-tie banquet at the castle later, and the Trumps will stay overnight in the 1,000-year-old castle.
At Chequers on Thursday – just days after the prime minister sacked Lord Mandelson over his links to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – the president will hold talks with Sir Keir.
The prime minister had already faced political turmoil in his government for two weeks following the sacking of Ms Rayner over her failure to pay the right amount of tax on her second home.
The government is particularly keen to impress the president to secure favourable trade terms with the UK’s largest single economic partner.
However, efforts to slash the levy to zero have been put on ice.
Trump supporters lined the streets of Windsor. One, Anderson Okiwe, from Nottinghamshire, said his message to Mr Trump was: “Thank you so much Donald Trump for all that you’ve done. Let’s get back to common sense.”
However, there were opponents, too. Dozens took to the streets of Windsor chanting slogans such as “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump has got to go”.
No public events have been arranged for Mr Trump’s visit, and security is paramount.
The engagements all avoid London, where thousands of people took part in protests. The Metropolitan Police deployed 1,600 officers.
Carrying banners reading “No to racism, no to Trump”, about 3,000 people headed to a rally at Parliament.
Palestinian flags dominated the march, and some participants were dressed as the American leader, complete with heavy orange tans and voluminous blonde wigs.
One woman was dressed as “the Statue of Taking Liberties” while another dragged an effigy of the president through the streets.
The march was mostly upbeat and light-hearted, with drums, music and dancing.
Four people were arrested over pictures of Donald Trump and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein that were projected onto Windsor Castle.
On Tuesday night, climate protesters disrupted a gala dinner by Republicans Overseas at Windsor Guildhall.
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