Furious behind-the-scenes row at Trump's Windsor Castle state dinner
Backstage tensions between U.S. Secret Service and kitchen staff overshadow a royal banquet during President Trump's visit to Britain, according to the Daily Mail.
A furious behind-the-scenes row disrupted the Windsor Castle state dinner for President Donald Trump during his visit to Britain, according to the Daily Mail. The lavish banquet in St George's Hall was the centerpiece of the state visit, hosted by King Charles with Prince William and Princess Kate, and attended by about 160 VIP guests from business and diplomacy on both sides of the Atlantic.
Sources say tensions erupted in the kitchen as members of the U.S. Secret Service guarding Trump moved into food preparation areas to oversee the cooking and even sample dishes, prompting friction with visiting American security and kitchen staff. The guests in the main hall remained unaware as the dispute played out behind the scenes, and the kitchen crew eventually returned to its usual rhythm after several minutes. Royal sources described a brief, heated exchange that did not derail the formal dining in the hall.
The opulent three-course dinner, described as written in French, began with Hampshire watercress panna cotta with Parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad. The main course featured organic Norfolk chicken ballotine wrapped in courgettes with thyme and a savory infused jus, followed by a vanilla ice cream bombe and Kentish raspberry interior sorbet, decorated with poached plums. A substantial wine list accompanied the courses, including a 2016 English vintage sparkling wine for aperitif, Domaine Bonneau de Martray Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2018 with the starter, and Ridge Vineyards Montebello 2000 with the main course, finishing with Pol Roger Extra Cuvee de Reserve 1998 for champagne. After-dinner drinks included a 1945 vintage port in honor of Trump being the 45th U.S. president and a 1912 cognac, the year his Scottish mother was born. The banquet also offered a special cocktail for guests—the Transatlantic whisky sour, blending Johnnie Walker with marmalade, pecan foam and a toasted marshmallow on a biscuit—though Trump himself is reported to avoid alcohol.
The head of the 47-meter table sat in the middle, with King Charles beside the guest of honor. Trump sat adjacent to First Lady Melania Trump, who was flanked by Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales. TV footage from the event showed the royals and the Trumps appearing to enjoy each other’s company during the formal portion of the evening, even as backstairs tensions briefly simmered out of view from the hall.
Officially, the dinner proceeded with the main hall reception described as a success, while the behind-the-scenes discord was contained to the kitchen and did not derail the formal proceedings. The Daily Mail cited multiple sources noting that, despite the momentary disruption, the ceremony and the climate outside the kitchen were cordial, and the guest list—including high-ranking business chiefs and diplomats—likely left Windsor with a sense of a smoothly executed state visit overall.