Britain Rolls Out Pomp for Trump's Second State Visit

LONDON — Britain is staging a grand welcome for President Donald Trump on his second state visit, a two-day schedule built around a show of royal pomp and pageantry and designed to project alliance as global crises continue to unfold.

A 41-gun salute was fired from six World War I–era guns on the east lawn of Windsor Castle as Trump and King Charles III met in the castle garden, accompanied by the playing of both nations’ anthems. The ceremonial cannon fire, reserved for the most significant occasions, underscored the depth of the U.K.–U.S. relationship during a visit intended to project stability and continuity on the world stage. The salute marks a notable contrast with Trump’s first state visit in 2019, when he did not receive the same display of gunpowder and ceremony.

A total of 1,300 members of the military and 120 horses were featured in the welcome ceremony, described by UK officials as the largest procession marking a state visit in recent history. The spectacle surpassed the scale of the earlier welcome when Queen Elizabeth II hosted Trump during his first term. Military officials said the display was designed to convey the enduring strength of the transatlantic alliance as regular people gathered along the Windsor route to glimpse the guests of honor.

Trump and the king then rode in a horse-drawn carriage procession through the Windsor estate toward the nearly 1,000-year-old Windsor Castle, flanked by service members on parade. Trump and the king traveled in the Irish State Coach, followed by Queen Camilla and First Lady Melania Trump in the Scottish State Coach, with Prince William and Catherine trailing behind. The carriage ride, a public-facing celebration of royal history, aimed to give onlookers a close-up view of the guests and the royals alike.

In a striking visual display, the first-ever joint flypast by both U.S. and U.K. fighter jets filled the sky with red, white and blue smoke. The Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows joined with American aircraft to provide a rare, synchronized show of force and symbolism that underscored the strength of the alliance at a moment of global tension.

A royal band provided the musical backdrop for the military ceremony, with performances by the Portsmouth-based Royal Marines Band, the Band of the Scots Guards, and the Royal Air Force band. The blend of marching tunes, percussion and wind ensembles framed the public-facing aspects of a visit designed to emphasize continuity in the U.S.–U.K. relationship.

The two-day schedule will culminate in a glittering white-tie state banquet at Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Hall, where roughly 150 guests will gather for a formal multi-course dinner. Both leaders are expected to give speeches, with the king to propose a toast to Trump and the U.S. president to offer a reply and a toast in return. A royal cocktail will be served as part of the formal proceedings, though Trump, who is known for his teetotal stance, may abstain. A string orchestra will perform, and at the end of the banquet 12 pipers will process through the hall—the Knights of the Garter arms lining the room providing a traditional nod to history.

The visit comes as a range of international challenges continues to shape Western diplomacy. Britain’s royal-hosted events are intended to underscore a durable, long-standing partnership with the United States while projecting calm, ceremonial appeal in a period marked by geopolitical volatility.

The White House and Buckingham Palace have framed the visit as a reminder of shared democratic values and common interests in security, trade, and regional stability. Followers of royal and political ceremonies will be watching to see how the pomp translates into substantive diplomacy as Trump and allied leaders navigate pressing global issues.