Trump Receives Ceremonial Welcome at Windsor as UK State Visit Begins
King Charles to host military procession, joint flypast and state banquet as large protests and elevated security accompany the unprecedented second visit
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were given a ceremonial welcome by King Charles at Windsor Castle on the first full day of the U.S. president’s second state visit to the United Kingdom.
The Trumps were greeted on the royal estate by the Prince and Princess of Wales before a short open-air meeting with the King and Queen, a carriage ride through Home Park and a military procession across the castle quadrangle. The ceremonial events included a historic flypast combining American and British aircraft and culminated in a state banquet where both the King and the president were expected to deliver speeches.
The visit began Tuesday evening when Air Force One touched down at London Stansted Airport and the presidential party was taken by helicopter to Winfield House in Regent’s Park, where the president spent the night. Officials said Mr. Trump would be confined to the private Windsor estate during Wednesday’s formal events before traveling to the prime minister’s country residence, Chequers, on Thursday.
Security and public order measures were prominent throughout the day. About 1,600 police officers were deployed in central London, where thousands of protesters were expected. A march organized by the Stop Trump Coalition was scheduled to assemble around Parliament Square, with road closures planned to facilitate the demonstrations. Local authorities reported several dozen groups planned to participate.
Four people were arrested in Windsor late Tuesday after images and video of Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew and Mr. Trump were projected onto the castle walls. The projection included a timeline and photographs that attracted passersby and prompted the arrests, police said. Protesters in Windsor had been heard chanting "Dump Trump" even before the president landed.
Mr. Trump told reporters on arrival that he "loves" the United Kingdom and called it a "very special place," noting ties between the two countries. The White House lists ceremonial elements of state visits — such as the royal reception, procession and state banquet — as traditional demonstrations of formal diplomatic relations between heads of state.
The visit marks an unprecedented second state visit for a sitting U.S. president to the U.K.; Mr. Trump previously visited as president in 2019. The invitation from King Charles, extended earlier in the year, underpinned planning for the ceremonial program and advance security arrangements.
A military presence on the Windsor grounds included a procession through the quadrangle and participating aircraft for the flypast, described by organizers as an integrated display of British and American aviation assets. The state banquet, scheduled later in the evening, was to feature speeches by both sovereign and guest, following royal protocol for heads-of-state visits.
Officials emphasized that security planning aimed to allow the ceremonial program to proceed while managing peaceful protest activity. Authorities deployed additional officers and implemented road closures in central London to support the expected demonstrations.
The two-day visit is set to continue with bilateral meetings and further formal engagements intended to underscore the United States–United Kingdom relationship. Organizers said the itinerary balances ceremonial tradition with time for private diplomatic talks and official business over the remaining days of the state visit.