Prince William Pulls Out Melania Trump’s Chair at Windsor State Banquet

Prince William pulled out a chair for First Lady Melania Trump during a state banquet at Windsor Castle on Wednesday evening, as King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife. The moment, captured on camera, showed the Prince of Wales guiding Melania to her seat beside Queen Camilla at the grand dining table.

William, 43, wore a black Windsor tailcoat with a blue sash and multiple orders, while Melania, 55, arrived in a sunshine-yellow gown cinched at the waist with a pink belt. The guest list totaled about 160 dignitaries, diplomats and celebrities, with a formal procession through the castle's state rooms. The Princess of Wales, Kate, wore a couture gown by Phillipa Lepley, a full-length gold chantilly lace evening coat, and accessorized with the late Queen Elizabeth II’s earrings and the Lover’s Knot tiara. Queen Camilla wore sapphire accents with her Fiona Clare dress. Melania’s look included a pale-yellow, off-shoulder gown that she cinched at the waist.

King Charles, opening the banquet, toasted the United Kingdom’s 'remarkable bond' with the United States and stressed their 'unparalleled partnership' as he spoke of shared history and values. He acknowledged the wartime sacrifices of both nations and noted that the ocean no longer divides them in the same way, calling the relationship 'closest of kin' in many respects. He also touched on the long and intertwined ties that stretch back to early alliance history, and he joked about a historical what-if involving a potential royal marriage.

Trump, in a pre-written address that at times wandered off-script, opened by calling the visit 'one of the highest honours' of his life and praised King Charles for his work with wounded veterans. He noted that this was the second state visit of his presidency and joked about hoping it would not be repeated too soon. He lauded the monarch for recognizing the 'names of all the guests' and for guiding the relationship with what he described as a 'special' but deeply meaningful bond. Trump also lauded the British people, defense of freedom, and Britain’s cultural and economic influence, and he offered high praise for the King's family and their role in shaping a strong partnership between the two countries.

The Trump delegation included Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos, and the event highlighted the ceremonial aspect of the US-UK alliance, which continues to be framed by shared interests in security, defense, and democratic values. The banquet, attended by about 160 guests, served to underscore a relationship that both leaders described as enduring and pivotal to global stability, even as it navigated contemporary geopolitical tensions. The event concluded with formal toasts, in keeping with centuries of royal diplomacy, and with the sense that the 'special relationship' remains a central thread in both nations’ national narratives.