Trump uses Windsor banquet to praise Charles, with veiled jab at Harry

President Donald Trump used a Windsor Castle state banquet to praise King Charles III and Prince William, while delivering a veiled dig at Prince Harry. The remarks came during a speech in St George's Hall as part of the king's second state visit and were delivered before a guest list of royal watchers and invited dignitaries. Trump said the monarch had helped wounded veterans 'like nobody else' and called the visit 'one of the highest honors' of his life.

He described the king's work as uplifting the poor, supporting rural communities and tending to wounded veterans, noting that Charles had done so 'like nobody else' at a time when veterans' services face scrutiny. The president also praised Prince William as the King's 'remarkable son' and 'really amazing,' adding, 'We've gotten to know you and I think you're going to have an unbelievable success in future.' He concluded by telling the couple 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, so beautiful.

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The state banquet in Windsor Castle's St George's Hall was hosted by King Charles and members of the Royal Family, with roughly 1,500 troops involved in ceremonial displays—the kind of crowd that has become common in the royal charm offensive tied to this visit, and almost double those on duty for France's President Emmanuel Macron during his recent trip. Earlier in the day, Trump also laid a wreath at Queen Elizabeth II's tomb in St George's Chapel with the First Lady, as part of the ceremonial welcomes and soft diplomacy well into the opening day of the visit.

Trump's remarks touched on the enduring bond between the United States and the United Kingdom, describing the relationship as priceless and eternal. He used a metaphor to describe the two nations as two notes in one chord or two verses of the same poem, each beautiful on its own but meant to be played together. He reiterated that the bond is special and that the ocean may still divide them, but it has not diminished their kinship.

In context, the speech came after years of complicated ties between Trump and the royal family, including prior public criticisms of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The notes summarize a history of tension, with Trump previously saying in 2020 that he was not a fan of Meghan, in 2024 stating he would not protect Harry because he believed Harry betrayed the Queen, and in early 2024 suggesting there could be consequences if drugs mentioned in Spare were verified. In February 2025, Trump said he would "leave him alone" and added that Harry's wife was "terrible." The former president also said he had ruled out deporting Harry over drug references in Spare, a decision that aligned with a more cautious public posture toward the couple.

The Duke of Sussex has been in Britain recently on a solo trip tied to charitable work, including WellChild and Children In Need events, as well as the Invictus Games Foundation, before traveling to Ukraine. Harry and Meghan, who reside in California, have largely remained outside the daily arc of the Windsor public schedule during the Trump visit. The day’s proceedings and the royals' hosting role are part of a broader effort to emphasize the longtime alliance between the U.S. and the U.K. and to underscore shared values of service, defense and veteran support. Charles, for his part, spoke of the enduring bond between the two nations that has evolved from historic conflict to a partnership he described as stronger than ever, a relationship the king said is still commonly called 'special' while stressing that the two nations are now the closest of kin.