On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump arrived at Windsor Castle for a two-day state visit to Britain as the guest of King Charles III. He was met by royalty, military honor guards, and mounted warriors.
When Marine One arrived in the secluded Walled Garden on the castle grounds, Prince William and his wife Catherine met the president and First Lady Melania Trump. They then walked to the monarch and Queen Camilla to meet them.
Military bands performed the US and British national anthems as the Trumps rode in a line of horse-drawn carriages past rows of soldiers, sailors, and aviators to the castle.
During the brief ride to the castle quadrangle, the king and president talked in their coach. There, Trump and the king looked at an honor guard of soldiers.
The day of royal pageantry is the best part of the president’s second state visit to the UK, which is a first.
On September 17, 2025, King Charles and US President Donald Trump ride in a carriage past Windsor Castle. Picture from AP
And it is on a scale that the president, who loves grandeur, will be impressed with. There are about 120 horses and 1,300 troops, including the largest guard of honor in living memory.
It’s a show with a purpose: to strengthen ties with a world leader who likes to show off, even as his America First policies are hurting trade and security throughout the world.
On Tuesday night, Trump got to London and said he appreciated being back in the UK, calling it a “very special place.”
Trump seemed to be very excited about the idea of going to Windsor Castle, where the first day of the state visit would take place. He called the invitation “a great, great honor.”
George Gross, an expert on the British monarchy at King’s College London, said, “I think that’s also why he seems so excited about the second meeting. It’s not an invitation given to just anyone.”
On September 17, 2025, US President Donald Trump and King Charles look over the guard of honor at Windsor Castle. Photo by AP
Politics and show
The British royals haven’t had any political authority in a long time, but their history, tradition, and fame make them quite desirable guests for presidents and prime leaders.
That means that the invitations, which the elected government asked for, are a potent way to reward friends and get reluctant allies to give in.
No US president, or any other international leader, has ever had the honor of a second visit to the UK. This is something that a president who regularly talks about his acts in superlatives and has made no secret of his love for the British royal family will understand.
On Thursday, Trump is due to talk with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who will discuss about a new technology accord between the UK and the US.
On September 15, 2025, in Lancaster House in London, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer talks to people from the Civil Nuclear industry. AP Photo
The UK government hopes that the transaction and billions of dollars in investment from US IT companies will help prove that the link between the UK and the US is still strong, even though they disagree on Ukraine, the Middle East, and NATO’s future.
Starmer also wants to stay away from uncomfortable inquiries about Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer removed Peter Mandelson, the ambassador to the US, just days before Trump’s state visit. This was because Mandelson had been acquaintances with the convicted sex offender in the past.
On Tuesday, the campaign group Led By Donkeys projected a picture of Trump and Epstein on a tower at Windsor Castle. This was a reminder of the president’s ties to the disgraced financier.
The police stated they took four persons into custody because of the stunt.
Protection from protestors.
Most state visits take place in London, with Buckingham Palace and the wide, flag-lined promenade known as The Mall in the background.
But this one is happening in Windsor, a historic town with a population of just over 30,000 people, roughly 40 kilometers west of central London.
That makes it simpler to keep protests under control and keep the president safe at a time when tensions are rising around the world, especially after the death of Trump’s friend Charlie Kirk in Utah last week.
To keep the president safe, British police have set up a huge security operation.
On September 17, 2025, an armed police officer stands watch at the entrance of Windsor Castle to protect President Donald Trump’s arrival. Photo from AP
Thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets outside the Houses of Parliament when Trump visited London for the first time as president in 2019. A balloon shaped like a huge, nappy-wearing baby Trump soared above them.
Robert Lacey, a historian who works on the Netflix show “The Crown,” argued that Windsor is also a better place for a state visit than London since it looks better in photos.
He stated, “Buckingham Palace has its balcony and its front.” But “inside it’s very dreary, and it’s being renovated right now, which is one reason why Mr. Trump won’t be staying there.” “Windsor is a real castle.”
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