UK police mount large drone and airspace operation around Windsor Castle for President Trump’s visit

Thames Valley Police said it has launched a “comprehensive” policing operation that includes a large drone deployment and airspace restrictions across Windsor Castle ahead of United States President Donald Trump’s state visit.

The operation began Tuesday, ahead of a rehearsal for the visit, and is scheduled to run through Thursday, the force said. Police described the measures as routine for high-profile visits and said they are intended to keep everyone safe while minimizing disruption to the local community. Chief elements of the deployment include a dedicated drone team, a firearms unit, a Specialist Search Unit, mounted officers and patrols on land and waterways.

"There will be policing drone tactics that the public will see, as well as policing drone tactics that the public won’t see," Inspector Matthew Wilkinson said in a statement released by the force. Police also said the searches carried out by specialist teams are routine but important, and the force asked the public for patience as officers completed security checks.

The force declined to detail how the deployment compared with past visits, citing operational reasons. Local reporting said the scale of preparations had not been seen since King Charles III’s coronation in 2023. Thames Valley Police said it had extended airspace restrictions late last week to include Chequers, the prime minister’s official country residence in Buckinghamshire, through Thursday evening; the restrictions apply to all aircraft, including drones.

A firearms unit and a Specialist Search Unit were confirmed as part of the Windsor operation. Sergeant Amber Timmis, a police search adviser, said search teams would "be searching everywhere to make sure everything is secure, before the event begins." The force also noted that officers on horseback would patrol throughout the three-day policing period.

Trump is not expected to leave the United Kingdom until Friday. He is scheduled to attend events in Windsor and to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, the government said. Thames Valley Police said the restrictions and deployments were designed to support the safe delivery of the visit while minimizing disruption to residents and businesses.

Security preparations for foreign leaders’ visits in the U.K. commonly include temporary airspace closures, policing drones, searches by specialist units and visible patrols. Police stressed that while such measures may be visible to the public, other tactics remain operationally sensitive and will not be disclosed.

The heightened precautions come as political violence has featured prominently in security planning elsewhere. Recent high-profile attacks in the United States, publicly reported by U.S. media and authorities, have included the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in Utah, the shootings of two Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses in June, and an arson attack at the Pennsylvania governor’s residence in April. Former U.S. officials have also cited previous assassination attempts against Trump during his 2024 campaign as part of broader concerns about threats to political figures.

While the U.K. has substantially lower rates of gun violence than the United States, Thames Valley Police said its measures follow established procedures for major events and high-profile visitors. The force reiterated that protective steps were intended to safeguard attendees and members of the public and asked anyone with information to contact police through normal reporting channels.

The U.K. government and local authorities declined to provide operational details beyond public safety notices. Thames Valley Police said it would continue to review and adjust resources as required while the visit and related events proceed.