Trump’s UK Visit Highlights: Trump holds talks with Starmer, hails ‘priceless’ US-UK ties

A day of ceremony began following the arrival of US President Donald Trump in Windsor. He has already taken a ceremonial carriage ride with the King and inspected an honour guard of soldiers in traditional scarlet tunics and tall bearskin hats. After a private lunch and a visit to an exhibit of documents and artwork illustrating the ties between Britain and the US, it will be time for the glitz and glamour of a state banquet.

Tiaras and medals will be on display as up to 160 guests gather around a 50-metre long mahogany table set with 200-year-old silver to honour the president. Charles will deliver a speech, then the king and president will offer toasts.

King Charles III and President Donald Trump ride in the carriage procession to Windsor Castle (Photo: AP)

US President Donald Trump and King Charles inspected the honor guard after sharing a ceremonial carriage ride. There appeared to be a strong camaraderie between the two leaders as they laughed and spoke after meeting on Tuesday.

The King was spotted joking with the President despite the formal setting — with Trump saying “thanks very much” several times as he was led back to the dais by Charles.

Visuals shared online showed King Charles and President Donald Trump in deep discussion as their carriage made its way down the road. Melania Trump was also seen speaking to Queen Camilla in the carriage behind the two leaders. The national anthems of both countries could be heard playing in the background.

The British royals and the Trumps have now stepped into carriages for a procession. King Charles and President Trump are in the lead coach while Queen Camilla and First Lady Melania Trump follow in a second carriage. The Prince and Princess of Wales were joined by the US ambassador and his wife in a third carriage while a fourth conveyed top figures from the Trump administration.

US President has just met King Charles at Windsor Castle. The two leaders shook hands before engaging in deep conversation, including the Prince of Wales. The first lady, Queen and Princess of Wales are reportedly chatting in a separate group nearby.

US President Donald Trump was greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales upon reaching Windsor Castle. William and Kate handled the administrative welcome before escorting the Trumps for their meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Victoria House — a relatively unknown royal residence in Windsor Home Park behind the castle.

US President Donald Trump has now reached Windsor Castle. His helicopter landed on the grounds — with the US leaders first greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

King Charles and Queen Camila have already reached Windsor Castle. Visuals shared online showed the royals taking their places — with Trump slated to reach within minutes.

A US delegation was also spotted outside Windsor Castle. The tam includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.

US President Donald Trump is currently heading to Windsor Castle for a grand military welcome and meeting with King Charles. He will be staying at the royal residence tonight.

Visuals shared online showed Marine One flying past famous London landmarks while British officials began taking their places in Windsor.

The military ceremony to welcome Trump will be the largest one staged for a state visit to the U.K. in living memory, officials said.In total, 120 horses and 1,300 members of the British military will take part in the ceremonial welcome at Windsor. The spectacle will conclude with a joint U.K-U.S. military flypast — a first during a state visit.

“The joint flypast by UK and US F-35 aircraft is a demonstration of the strength of the UK-US defense and security relationship,” Britain’s defense ministry said.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hoping to use that sentiment to Britain’s advantage as his government seeks to use the trip to cement the two nations’ “special relationship”, deepen economic ties, secure billions of dollars of investment, discuss tariffs and press the US president on Ukraine. Starmer also wants further progress on tariffs.

The visit has already delivered a new technology pact between the two countries with companies from Microsoft to Nvidia, Google and OpenAI pledging 31 billion pounds ($42 billion) in British investments over the next few years, in AI, quantum computing and civil nuclear energy.

“Basically, I’m there also on trade. They want to see if they can refine the trade deal a little bit. They’d like to see if they could get a little bit better deal, so we’ll talk to them,” Trump said while leaving the White House.

The unprecedented second state visit of Donald Trump will not include an address to the British Parliament. The POTUS arrives during a recess in the Houses of Parliament — removing any possibility of him addressing a joint session. Some UK lawmakers had previously urged the Speaker of the House to refuse all prospects of such a speech. The visit is also unlikely to have any public-facing events.

According to a BBC update, the Prince and Princess of Wales will greet the president and his wife at Windsor Castle. The Trumps will then meet King Charles before being treated to a flypast and state banquet.

As Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK is marked with royal ceremonies and grandeur, not everyone is celebrating his arrival.

The Stop Trump Coalition, a network of more than 50 unions and charities, has announced a national protest against the visit, BBC reported. The march will begin at Portland Place at 2 pm (BST) and move toward Parliament Square, where a rally is planned at 5 pm (BST). Even though Trump will not visit Parliament, which is on recess, organisers say they want to stand against his style of politics and highlight a vision of peace, social justice, and global cooperation.

The second day of Trump’s state visit will take him to Chequers, the 16th-century redbrick mansion in the Chiltern Hills that serves as the official country retreat of British prime ministers. There, Trump will meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The UK government hopes that signing a new technology deal during the visit will show that the bond between Britain and the US remains strong, even with differences over Ukraine, the Middle East, and the future of NATO.

Britain is rolling out its finest for Donald Trump’s second state visit, something that few world leaders have experienced, ever. Carriages are being polished, silverware arranged, and royal jewels dusted as King Charles III prepares to host a lavish welcome on Wednesday.

Behind the sparkle, hundreds of soldiers, gardeners, and chefs are working hard to ensure the president and First Lady Melania Trump receive the grandest royal treatment. But the pageantry has a deeper goal, which is to strengthen ties with Trump, a leader who enjoys luxury, even as his “America First” approach challenges global trade and security partnerships.

King Charles will deliver the main speech at a grand state banquet on Wednesday evening to welcome the US President, a BBC report said. Other senior royals will also be present to extend hospitality. Queen Camilla is expected to attend despite missing the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on Tuesday due to severe sinusitis. She has a special plan for Melania Trump like showing her a century-old dolls’ house designed by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. It may be a miniature, but it will be the only small moment in an otherwise grand royal event.

During Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK in 2019, Prince Andrew played a key role, spending much of the trip alongside the US president. At the time, he was considered an important royal figure to host Trump, given their past acquaintance.

This year, the situation is very different. BBC reports that Prince Andrew has stepped away from public duties due to his links with Jeffrey Epstein and will not take part in any official events. He won’t attend the state banquet, though he did appear at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on Tuesday since it was a private family matter.

Despite living in Windsor, the closest Andrew has come to this state visit was when protesters projected an image of him with Epstein onto the castle walls.

Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan will not attend the state banquet for Donald Trump at Windsor Castle tonight. She declined the King’s invitation, saying she wanted to stay with her colleagues during a very difficult time after the death of Hefin David, the Senedd member from Caerphilly, reported CNN.

Morgan thanked the King for the invitation in a letter but explained that her place was with her team as they mourn the loss, the report added. Her decision has drawn criticism from senior Welsh Conservatives, who said her absence shows political troubles in Welsh Labour and claimed she failed to represent Wales at such an important national event.

William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales will welcome the Trump and Melania today. They will be staying at the Windsor Castle for two nights. The couple will meet King Charles and attend a grand state banquet at the castle on Wednesday. Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest castle still in use, was first built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror and has been home to 40 monarchs since then. Trump’s 2019 state visit was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace.

Trump and and the White House have been trying to dodge questions about his links to Jeffrey Epstein for weeks now. But the issue resurfaced last week after the sacking of the UK’s ambassador to Washington, Lord Peter Mandelson, over closer ties to Epstein than previously known. So far, Trump and the White House have stayed silent on Mandelson’s removal, giving no reaction or comment. Even on Monday, senior US officials avoided questions on the matter and directed reporters to the British government instead.

However, avoiding the subject will be harder during Trump’s UK visit. The British press has given much more attention to Mandelson’s dismissal and Epstein’s connections, meaning Trump is likely to face tougher questions there than at ho

UK PM Keir Starmer is reportedly planning to discuss global security, including Russia’s recent drone incursion into Polish airspace, which he wants Trump to take seriously. The visit will include announcements on cultural and educational collaborations, such as promoting basketball in the UK and building partnerships between heritage and art institutions. These efforts aim to deepen US-UK ties beyond politics and trade, highlighting the broader scope of the state visit.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer could be hoping that the grandeur of Trump’s visit will help offset criticism at home. He is facing questions about his handling of welfare reform, cabinet reshuffles, and the economy, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party gains popularity. Starmer will aim to highlight any achievements or agreements reached during the state visit, using them to strengthen his domestic standing. Local protests are also expected at Windsor Castle, adding another layer of complexity to the trip. Protestors have already expressed their disappointment with Starmer for “rolling out the red carpet” for Trump.

This trip marks Trump’s second state visit to the UK, a historic first for any US president, following his trip to Scotland in July. He was previously hosted by Queen Elizabeth II for a state visit in 2019. The visit comes at a sensitive time, with the UK still dealing with the recent sacking of Lord Mandelson as ambassador over past ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump’s own connection to Epstein has also drawn scrutiny, including from his US supporters, as old allegations continue to come up.

Before leaving the US on Air Force One, Trump called the visit an honour and said, “My relationship is very good with the UK.” He also spoke about trade, saying, “They want to see if they can refine the trade deal a little bit… I’m into helping them,” as a multi-billion-dollar US technology investment deal was announced.

Trump on Tuesday said that the main reason for his trip was to meet “my friend” King Charles, adding that he has been representing the country well and as “an elegant gentleman.” CNN reports that the UK government is planning to use this opportunity to urge the US to stay committed to NATO and support Ukraine, with a larger-than-usual military display for the occasion.

A deal that was proposed to remove US tariffs on British steel was put on hold just before Donald Trump’s second state visit to the UK, The Independent reported. The 25% levy will not be cut to zero as was originally planned earlier this year.

Trump had suggested he might offer some relief on steel tariffs while boarding Air Force One, but UK officials did not provide details ahead of the two-day visit. The UK Prime Minister’s office said discussions would continue on refining the trade deal signed earlier this year, which eased the barriers on several goods but did not include steel.

Trump arrived late Tuesday for his second state visit, and is scheduled to meet King Charles III on Wednesday. The King will be welcoming him formally at the Windsor Castle where they will have a day of royal ceremonies lined up.