Starmer to host Trump at Chequers as Windsor events underscore state visit’s dual aims

LONDON — On the final day of Donald Trump’s UK state visit, Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host the US president at Chequers, with the government hoping to showcase a new tide of American investment into Britain and to anchor closer transatlantic ties amid a day of royal ceremonies and mounting questions surrounding Epstein-era ties that threaten to overshadow the visit.

The plan centers on a pledge of roughly £150 billion in potential investment from major US firms, including Blackstone, Prologis and Palantir, with Starmer signaling that a technology prosperity deal could unlock new capital flows to Britain's data centers, AI capabilities and broader tech sector. Overnight announcements from firms outlined a path to thousands of high-quality jobs across the country—some 7,600, according to government figures cited by aides—while the second day’s business discussions at Chequers are expected to emphasize manufacturing, digital services and green infrastructure in the wake of a tense political backdrop.

As Trump heads to Chequers, the talks are expected to cover a spectrum of issues that could test the durability of the newfound warmth between the two governments. In addition to the hoped-for investment, ministers have floated a technology cooperation framework intended to deepen collaboration with American tech firms on capabilities ranging from data handling to advanced manufacturing. There has also been attention on whether any agreement could ease or alter the digital services tax, a point of contention for US-based corporations operating in Britain.

But the day’s timetable is not just about business. The state visit has been punctuated by royal events and public optics—most notably a Windsor Castle banquet on Wednesday in which Trump and Britain’s royals were portrayed to broad admiration by guests and watchers nationwide. The First Lady, Melania Trump, is scheduled to attend a joint engagement in Windsor with the Princess of Wales, meeting Chief Scout Dwayne Fields and members of the Scouts’ Squirrels programme in Frogmore Gardens. The arrangement marks a rare pivot in the couple’s itinerary that blends ceremonial diplomacy with a distinctly human-interest thread around youth outreach.

This mix comes as Prime Minister Starmer faces questions about past choices in his US ambassadorial line-up and Donald Trump’s own entanglements with the Epstein matter. The sacking of Lord Mandelson from the post of ambassador to the US after emails connected to Epstein surfaced has fueled a political scramble in Whitehall over what was known and when. Downing Street aides privately acknowledge the guidance offered to Starmer ahead of a joint press conference with Trump could become a focal point for media questions about Mandelson and Epstein, even as both leaders have indicated a desire to keep the tone constructive.

In briefing rooms and on the ground, officials say the aim is to keep the visit’s core message focused on economic opportunity while handling sensitive political topics with care. A Whitehall source described the day’s prospective exchanges as a high-wire act: “The PM does not want to be drawn into Epstein or Mandelson at all if he can avoid it, but you cannot pretend these issues do not exist when Trump’s own Epstein history is part of the backdrop.” The source added that Trump’s public appetite for expansive, free-form exchanges with the media could complicate efforts to steer the conversation toward tangible outcomes.

The period around the Chequers meeting is expected to feature a technology prosperity deal that could formalize a path for American tech players to invest in UK AI and data-capacity projects. Officials say the package would involve commitments from firms such as Blackstone, Palantir and Prologis, with the government characterizing the investment as a sign of the UK’s openness to global capital and its commitment to high-skilled, well-paying jobs.

There has also been talk of broader potential concessions on tariffs and trade rules, including discussions about U.S.-UK cooperation on steel imports, though officials cautioned that no final agreement on tariffs had been reached as of this writing. The focus, they say, remains on signaling a long-term alignment of interests, even as the state visit grapples with sensitive questions that lie beyond the realm of ceremony.

The star-studded schedule at Windsor on Wednesday—where the King and Queen hosted guests at a formal banquet—provided a vivid backdrop to the day’s narrative. Trump praised the monarchy and spoke warmly about the “two notes in one chord” of American and British heritage, a line that observers said underscored the visit’s carefully choreographed messaging about enduring ties. The royal focus on nature and sustainable stewardship also featured in King Charles’s remarks, reflecting a broader theme of shared values that Britain has aimed to project to its transatlantic partner.

Throughout the day, the question of what, if anything, Britain might concede to secure Trump’s appetite for investment remained a central talking point. The technology prosperity deal, the future of digital services taxation, and the prospect of easing steel-related frictions were cited by aides as possible “deliverables,” but officials stressed that concrete outcomes could depend on a broader climate of cooperation and mutual interests rather than a single concession.

As the afternoon press conference looms, Starmer and Trump are expected to be pressed on Mandelson’s role and Epstein-era questions, as well as the ongoing debate about free speech in the UK and Britain’s stance toward Gaza and Palestine. The two leaders have repeatedly signaled a willingness to keep the discussion constructive, but the event is likely to draw intense attention from international media and domestic critics who will be watching closely for signs of discord or divergence on these sensitive issues.

Analysts note that the state visit is attempting to balance symbolism with substance: Windsor’s ceremonial displays and the Chequers gambit together aim to reaffirm a robust, modern, and investment-friendly UK-US relationship, even as the episodes surrounding Epstein-era ties and questions about free speech press urgency on both sides. The coming hours will determine whether the visit can translate the pomp of Windsor and Chequers into durable economic and political alignment, or whether controversy will overwhelm the agenda.