Donald Trump’s historic second state visit to Britain began Wednesday with demonstrations, high security, and unparalleled pomp and circumstance as King Charles and other British royals welcomed him.
Windsor Castle, the world’s oldest and biggest inhabited castle and the ancestral home of British kings for nearly a millennium, is where Trump and his wife Melania landed.
Before a carriage procession through the grounds, he was greeted by the king, his wife Queen Camilla, and his heir Prince William and his wife Kate.
In what Britain has described as the largest military ceremonial greeting for a state visit in living memory, there will be a military flypast before a sumptuous supper.
Trump, an overt royal admirer, has made little secret of his joy at becoming not merely the first U.S. leader, but the first elected politician to be invited by a British monarch for two state visits.
He declared his affection for Britain to media upon his arrival. He remarked, “It’s a very special place,”
UK OPTIMISTIC VISIT WILL CEMENT ‘SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP’
Prime Minister Keir Starmer hopes to capitalize on that sentiment as his government works to strengthen economic ties, secure billions of dollars in investment, discuss tariffs, and pressure the U.S. president on Israel and Ukraine.
Microsoft, Nvidia, Google, and OpenAI have already committed 31 billion pounds ($42 billion) in British investments over the next few years in AI, quantum computing, and civil nuclear energy.
Starmer also wants more progress on trade, as Britain secured the first deal with Trump to lower some tariffs. The remaining levies on steel, whisky, and salmon may be discussed.
The president stated, “They want to see if they can refine the trade deal a little bit,” as he departed the White House on Tuesday for Britain.
However, there are still a lot of dangers for Britain’s prime minister, even though Starmer is counting on the unparalleled royal charm to help persuade the anglophile president, whose mother is from Scotland.
Trump is largely unpopular in Britain, according to polls, and Starmer will need to demonstrate that his royal trump card will work given his own declining poll numbers and economic difficulties.
Despite the high security, protesters pull off the EPSTEIN stunt.
Jeffrey Epstein, a late sex offender, may also be the subject of awkward inquiries.
Due to his connections to Epstein, Starmer fired Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador in Washington last week.
This might raise issues for both Starmer and Trump, whose personal link with the billionaire has also been questioned.
Police said four persons were arrested Tuesday when pictures of Trump and Epstein were projected onto one of the castle’s turrets, despite the fact that Windsor was the scene of a large police operation. At the time, Trump was not present.
Large-scale demonstrations are also anticipated in London on Wednesday, when 1,600 police officers will be called in to quell a protest by the “Stop the Trump Coalition”.
The capital’s commuters’ opinions on the visit were divided; some were upset over the invitation, while others thought it was a wise political move and a decent use of Britain’s soft power.
Kirstie Robertshaw, 54, a lawyer, stated, “We’re looking to sort of make the best of a bad situation,”
PAGEANTRY WILL DAZZLE TRUMP
There will be a lot of ceremony on Wednesday. The king’s “very handsome” older son, Prince William, as the president has referred to him, and Kate welcomed Trump and his wife Melania first.
Following that, 1,300 British military soldiers lined the route as Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, joined the Trumps in the carriage procession.
The president then examined a guard of soldiers in bearskin hats and scarlet uniforms, occasionally smiling and conversing with the king.
The Trumps will first lay a wreath on Queen Elizabeth’s tomb at St. George’s Chapel, the final resting place of Queen Elizabeth, who hosted Trump for his first state visit in 2019.
The royals will then show the president and first lady historical artifacts from the Royal Collection that pertain to the United States.
Before a lavish state dinner when the president and monarch will give remarks, there will be a flypast featuring US and UK F-35 fighter aircraft, a representation of the two countries’ defense cooperation.
Charles himself may feel conflicted about the visit. From his attempts to promote religious unity to his 50 years of supporting environmental concerns to his recent unwavering support for Canada, where he serves as head of state, he clearly shares few traits with Trump.
However, the event will also give him the most international attention he has had since his coronation.
According to historian Anthony Seldon, “if it goes well… I think this will go down as the most consequential event in his reign,”
The action will shift to Starmer’s country home in Chequers on Thursday, with a geopolitical focus.
