Trump praises Kate as radiant and healthy, hails King Charles at Windsor state banquet
In a lavish Windsor affair, the U.S. president lauds the royal family as Princess Kate's remission is noted and guests from tech and business attend.
President Donald Trump delivered a toast at Windsor Castle's lavish state banquet, praising King Charles and Princess Kate and noting that Kate is radiant and healthy after her cancer treatment. He called the dinner one of the highest honors of his life, a remark underscored by the unprecedented second state dinner arranged for a U.S. president. The ceremony, held on a backdrop of royal pomp, drew attention on the world stage as Washington and London reaffirmed their longstanding alliance.
Trump was seated between the king and Kate, with First Lady Melania Trump and Queen Camilla across from their husbands. "I tell you I just stood in line and shook about 150 hands, and the king knew every single person and every single company," Trump said. "And some of them had bad names like XYZ-Q3. And he knew every one of them." "Or at least he did, because nobody was complaining," Trump added to laughter.
Trump also congratulated Charles on his work as a father and noted that "we've gotten to know you" and that the future king will have an unbelievable success. "Such respect for you and such respect for your country," Trump told the king, praising Charles's fortitude and environmental efforts.
Turning to Kate, Trump recalled her cancer scare and said that she is radiant and so healthy and so beautiful. He added that Melania and he were delighted to visit again with Prince William and to see Her Royal Highness, Princess Catherine, so radiant and so healthy and so beautiful.
The women wore formal gowns for the occasion: Kate in a gold lace dress crowned with a royal crown and a royal blue sash, and Melania in an off-shoulder yellow gown with sleeves and a pink belt. Tiffany Trump attended with her husband Michael Boulos, seated near the head table.
Among the guests were Apple's Tim Cook, Nvidia chief Jensen Huang, and OpenAI's Sam Altman, signaling Trump’s continued appeal in Silicon Valley. Rupert Murdoch and Newsmax founder Christopher Ruddy were also invited. Tiffany Trump’s attendance highlighted the presence of a notable array of business and media figures at the dinner.
The menu featured Hampshire watercress panna cotta with parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, organic Norfolk chicken ballotine wrapped in courgettes with a thyme and savory jus, and a vanilla ice cream bombe with Kentish raspberry sorbet interior and lightly poached Victoria plums. The 160 guests—invited by the White House, the British government and the palace—were seated at one long table that measured 57.51 yards in length, with 139 candles and floral arrangements drawn from Buckingham Palace and the Savile Garden in Windsor Great Park.