US President Donald Trump arrived at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, kicking off a two-day state visit to Britain as the guest of King Charles III. The president’s Marine One helicopter landed in the private Walled Garden at the Windsor estate. 

Prince William and his wife Catherine were on hand to meet the president and first lady Melania Trump, walking them over to be greeted by the king and Queen Camilla.

Carriages have been polished, hundreds of troops have been drilled to perfection, the family silver is being laid out, and diamonds are being dusted off for a day of royal pageantry on the president’s unprecedented second state visit to Britain. It’s a spectacle with a purpose: to bols­ter ties with a world leader known for a love of bling at a time when his America First policies are putting pressure on trade and security arrangements globally.

Trump arrived in London late on Tuesday and said he loved being back in the UK, calling it a “very special place”. Asked if he had a message for Charles, he said the king was a longtime friend of his and well-respected.

The backdrop for day one is Windsor Castle, an almost 1,000-year-old royal residence with gilded interiors, crenellated towers and priceless artworks. A gigantic royal standard, the flag used for official celebration days, flew from the castle’s Royal Tower as the king and queen prepared for the Trumps to arrive by helicopter from London, where they spent Tuesday night at the US ambassador’s residence. 

The prospect of a visit to the castle has seemed to enchant Trump, who ditched his trademark bluster and described the invitation as “a great, great honour”.

pomp to politics

After a day of royal pomp, Trump will hold talks on Thursday with PM Keir Starmer, who will tout a new UK-US technology deal. The British government hopes the deal, and billions in investment from US tech firms, will help show that the trans-Atlantic bond remains strong despite differences over Ukraine, West Asia and the future of Nato.

Starmer hopes to avoid awkward questions about Jeffrey Epstein. Days before the state visit, Starmer fired Britain’s ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, over the envoy’s past friendship with the convicted sex offender.

On Tuesday, the campaign group Led By Donkeys projected an image of Trump and Epstein on a tower at Windsor Castle, a reminder of the president’s relationship with the disgraced financier. Police said they arrested four people over the stunt.

While Britain’s royals long ago gave up political power, their history, tradition and celebrity give them a cachet that means presidents and prime ministers covet an invitation to join them. 

That makes the invitations, handed out at the request of the elected government, a powerful tool to reward friends and wring concessions out of reluctant allies.

State banquet

No US president, or any other world leader, has ever had the honour of a second UK state visit. That won’t be lost on a president who often describes his actions with superlatives and has made no secret of his fondness for Britain’s royals.

A day of ceremony in Windsor included a horse-drawn carriage ride through the estate — 6,400 hectares of farms, forest and open space that includes a one-time royal hunting ground, still home to 500 red deer.