U.S. President, Donald Trump received a grand welcome from King Charles III at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, marking his historic second state visit to the UK.
The ceremony featured a 41-gun salute, mounted horses, and bagpipes, showcasing British pomp and pageantry.
Trump was greeted by Prince William and his wife Catherine, who warmly welcomed him and First Lady Melania Trump.
The ceremonial guard of honour, described as the largest for a state visit in British history, featured 1,300 military personnel and 120 horses.
Trump and the royals enjoyed a carriage ride through the Windsor estate, accompanied by mounted cavalry, to the nearly 1,000-year-old Windsor Castle.
Trump will witness a historic joint flypast by U.S and UK fighter jets, featuring F-35 military jets and the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows display team.
Trump and King Charles III will attend a white-tie state banquet, where they will deliver speeches and offer toasts.
The Trumps will pay respects to Queen Elizabeth II by laying a wreath on her tomb.
British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer said that visit aimed to strengthen ties with the U.S., despite Trump’s unpredictability on global issues.
The 79-year-old Republican is, however, being kept far away from Britons among whom polls indicate Trump remains unpopular, with the entire visit happening behind closed doors.
“It’s quite sad that the public cannot see the president,” 40-year-old Charlene Bryan, who had travelled from London hoping to see Trump, told AFP.
Trump is the first U.S. president to receive two state visits, after his previous one with Queen Elizabeth II in 2019.
The visit was marred by controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, with police arresting four people for projecting images of Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle.
Thousands were expected to attend protests in London, reflecting Trump’s unpopularity among some Britons.
