It was all the opposite inside Windsor Castle, where Trump was granted a full state welcome. His arrival marked an unprecedented second state visit.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump landed Tuesday evening at Stansted Airport before traveling by Marine One to the Walled Garden of Windsor Castle. Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, greeted them ahead of a carriage procession with King Charles III. A 41-round gun salute and the playing of both nations’ anthems accompanied the start of the pageantry.
The procession featured the Irish State Coach carrying Trump and the King, followed by Queen Camilla and Melania Trump in the Scottish State Coach.
Behind them were William, Catherine, and US Ambassador Warren Stephens with his wife, Harriet. Soldiers from across the Royal Navy, Army, and Air Force lined the route, joined by 80 members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
Inside the castle, Trump and King Charles inspected the Guard of Honour before joining Queen Camilla and the first lady for lunch in the State Dining Room. The King then led the president through a display of American artifacts from the Royal Collection. Later, Trump was scheduled to visit St. George’s Chapel to lay a wreath at the crypt of Queen Elizabeth II and tour the historic church.
The day’s events also included a rare “Beating Retreat” military ceremony with 200 musicians and a joint flyover of F-35 fighter jets from both countries, followed by Britain’s Red Arrows display team.
Outside Windsor, the protests continued. Organizers with the Stop Trump Coalition said thousands had pledged to march, with co-organizer Shaista Aziz telling NBC News that many demonstrators took time off work to attend.
Police confirmed four arrests connected to projections of images of Trump with Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle. Despite the detentions, one truck later drove through Windsor displaying a similar image and the caption, “Welcome to the UK, Donald.”
