LONDON; King Charles formally welcomed US President Donald Trump on Wednesday as his historic second state visit to Britain began, marked by lavish pageantry, heightened security, new technology deals, and planned demonstrations.
Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania, arrived at Windsor Castle — the world’s oldest and largest occupied castle and the monarchy’s residence for nearly a millennium. The couple was honored with full ceremonial grandeur, including a carriage procession, gun salutes, an aerial military display, and a state banquet. Officials say it is the largest ceremonial welcome for a state visit in modern memory.
A vocal admirer of the royals, Trump expressed his delight, noting he was the first US president — and the first elected politician — to be invited by a British monarch for two visits. “I love Britain. It’s a very special place,” he told reporters.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is eager to leverage Trump’s Anglophile sentiments to strengthen the UK-US “special relationship.” Talks will focus on trade, billions in new technology investments, tariffs, and foreign policy, including Ukraine and Israel. Already, the visit has yielded a technology pact, with Microsoft, Google, Nvidia, and OpenAI pledging £31 billion ($42 billion) for British projects in AI, quantum computing, and civil nuclear energy.
Despite the glittering welcome, challenges loom. Trump remains unpopular with much of the British public, while Starmer struggles with falling approval ratings and economic concerns. The Epstein scandal, which forced the dismissal of UK ambassador Peter Mandelson over his ties to the late financier, threatens to cast a shadow given Trump’s own past connections.
Security in Windsor has been tightened with a massive police deployment, yet protesters managed to project images of Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle on Tuesday night. Police arrested four people. In London, thousands are expected to join demonstrations organized by the “Stop Trump Coalition,” with 1,600 officers assigned to maintain order.
Public opinion is divided. Some commuters condemned Trump’s invitation, while others saw it as a pragmatic move. “We’re trying to make the best of a bad situation,” said lawyer Kirstie Robertshaw, 54.
