London, Sept 18, (PA Media/dpa/GNA) – US President Donald Trump was treated to an unprecedented display of military pomp and pageantry, as his historic
second state visit to the UK began with a spectacular ceremonial welcome on Wednesday.
The president and First Lady Melania Trump also received a personal, family-centred greeting from King Charles III and his immediate family, with Trump
in turn complimenting the Princess of Wales.
Around 1,500 troops in total were involved in the ceremonial events throughout the day, almost double those on duty for the recent state visit of French
President Emmanuel Macron.
The day featured a carriage procession through the grounds of Windsor Castle accompanied by a sovereign’s escort of 80 mounted soldiers and a 120-strong
guard of honour, the largest staged for a UK state visit in living memory.
Trump appeared at ease and respectful of his hosts and is unlikely to be the first American impressed by the history, splendour and atmosphere of
Windsor Castle, continuously occupied for almost 1,000 years.
Prince William and Kate were deployed at the start of the royal charm offensive to greet the Trumps who arrived in the Marine One helicopter at Victoria
House, a little-known property nestled on the private Windsor estate.
Trump first shook hands with the prince and when the princess did the same she gave him a broad smile as the US leader appeared to tell her: “You’re so
beautiful, so beautiful.”
William and Kate later had a short private meeting with the president and the first lady after the royal party sat down to lunch and viewed US artefacts
from the royal archive.
Waiting nearby the helicopter landing site were the king and queen and after they exchanged greetings with their guests, Charles and Trump appeared to
be engaged in deep discussion which carried on as they settled into their places in the Scottish State Coach and set off in the carriage procession.
In the castle’s quadrangle, which has staged welcomes for leaders from across the globe, the president inspected a Guard of Honour and following
protocol strode in front of the king.
The US leader stopped to speak to some of the guardsmen on parade from three of the British Army’s most prestigious regiments – Coldstream, Scots and
Grenadier Guards – and was overheard thanking the soldiers stood to attention.
Trump even shared a joke with one of the servicemen with Charles sharing the amusing moment as a few spots of rain fell.
In the wake of the killing of his ally Charlie Kirk, there are no public-facing elements during Trump’s engagements, with security paramount for the
47th US president – who has faced two assassination attempts in just over a year.
After lunch in the State Dining Room, the King led Trump through a set of gilded double doors into the Green Drawing Room to see the display of items
from the Royal Collection relating to the US.
The president was shown a letter sent from president Abraham Lincoln to Queen Victoria in 1862 expressing his condolences after the death of Prince
Albert, which was described as a “defining moment” in the special relationship between the UK and the US.
Trump remarked “that is so amazing, that’s the real deal” and leant forward to have a closer look.
The US leader had an affinity for Queen Elizabeth II, who hosted his first state visit, and during the afternoon he laid a wreath at her tomb in the
castle’s St George’s Chapel joined by the first lady.
After a brief tour of the chapel, during which they were shown Henry VIII’s vault, Trump said: “This was a great honour.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife joined the party for more events later.
In central London, hundreds of protesters gathered near the BBC headquarters to protest against the US leader’s second state visit.
Some protesters held banners which read: “No to the racism, no to Trump,” while others carried smaller versions of the Trump baby blimp, which became a
symbol of demonstration during the president’s first UK state visit in 2019.
GNA