Trump Greeted by Prince William and Kate at Windsor Castle as U.K. Protests Accompany State Visit

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were greeted at Windsor Castle on Wednesday morning by Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, as the president began a second state visit to the United Kingdom amid planned protests.

Regiments of the Royal Guard were in position on the castle grounds and Trump shook hands with William and Kate as they moved through the royal estate. After a brief private meeting with King Charles III, Trump joined the king in a royal carriage procession; Camilla, Queen Consort, and Melania rode in a separate carriage. The two horse-drawn carriages were heavily decorated with gold leaf, a detail reporters noted bore a resemblance to the ornamental style of Trump’s Oval Office décor since his second term.

Trump and Charles inspected a British Army guard of honour in the Quadrangle, an interior lawn at the royal residence, before moving inside for a private lunch hosted by the king and queen. Other U.S. officials accompanied the president on the procession; Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio followed in a separate carriage.

The visit revived memories of Trump’s first state visit in 2019, when he and Melania met the late Queen Elizabeth II and attended a state banquet alongside King Charles. Before departing for the U.K. on Tuesday, Trump described Charles as his "friend" when speaking to reporters outside the White House.

The start of the state visit came as demonstrators and campaign groups signaled plans for broader protests. Organizers with the Stop Trump Coalition scheduled a major demonstration in London for Wednesday, and police said protests would continue across the country. On Monday, a group that identified itself as Everyone Hates Elon unveiled a large banner on the lawn outside Windsor Castle depicting Trump with Jeffrey Epstein; police later removed the banner and arrested four people on suspicion of malicious communications in connection with the incident.

Authorities maintained a visible security presence around the royal residence and in parts of London expected to see demonstrations. In 2019, an estimated 125,000 people attended protests against Trump in the capital during his earlier state visit. Organizers and police both prepared for potential disruptions but offered few immediate details about the scale of demonstrations on Wednesday.

The state visit schedule includes additional bilateral meetings and ceremonial events in London and elsewhere during Trump’s stay. Royal receptions and formal ceremonies for visiting heads of state traditionally combine pageantry with opportunities for private diplomacy, and the White House delegation accompanying Trump includes senior administration officials and envoys tasked with several diplomatic portfolios.

The Windsor reception and carriage procession mark the ceremonial opening of the state visit; officials from both governments said further public and private engagements would follow over the coming days as leaders address shared issues, including trade, security and diplomatic cooperation.