President Donald Trump embarked on a historic second state visit to the UK on Wednesday, welcomed by King Charles III and senior royals at Windsor Castle.
The visit, marked by unprecedented ceremonial splendor, featured a carriage procession, a military flypast, and a lavish state banquet.
However, it was also overshadowed by protests in London and a controversy involving images of Trump with Jeffrey Epstein projected onto the castle.
The visit began with Trump and First Lady Melania arriving at Windsor Castle, greeted by Prince William, Catherine, King Charles, and Queen Camilla.
A carriage procession, lined by 1,300 British service personnel, showcased Britain’s ceremonial traditions.
The royals displayed U.S.-related artifacts from the Royal Collection, and Trump laid a wreath at St. George’s Chapel for Queen Elizabeth II.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer aimed to strengthen the UK-U.S. "special relationship," securing $42 billion in tech investments from companies like Microsoft and Nvidia, while discussing trade deals and issues like Ukraine and Israel.
Outside the castle, London saw significant protests led by the Stop the Trump Coalition, with 1,600 police officers deployed to manage demonstrations against Trump’s policies.
Four arrests were made after images of Trump and Epstein were projected onto Windsor Castle the previous night, with one image reappearing on a truck in Windsor.
Public sentiment was mixed, with some commuters supporting the diplomatic use of royal allure, while others, like lawyer Kirstie Robertshaw, called it making “the best of a bad situation.”
The day was dominated by pageantry, including a 41-round gun salute, a “Beating Retreat” performance by 200 musicians, and a joint UK-U.S. F-35 flypast.
For King Charles, the visit offered global attention but highlighted his differences with Trump on issues like environmentalism.
Starmer, facing domestic challenges, hopes the visit’s outcomes will bolster his leadership and UK’s economic ties with the U.S.