LONDON, Sept 18: King Charles used the state banquet at Windsor Castle to praise President Trump’s “personal commitment” to finding solutions to global conflicts and called for U.S. support for Ukraine against “tyranny,” the BBC reported.
Speaking to 160 guests, the King stressed that the UK and U.S. had “fought and died together for the values we hold dear” and must keep strong military, cultural and trade links. He also spoke about protecting the environment, saying there was a “precious opportunity to safeguard and restore the wonders of nature for future generations, ”
According to the BBC, President Trump called the UK-U.S. relationship deeper than the term “special” suggests. He praised Prince William as destined for success and described Catherine as “radiant and healthy.” Trump expressed admiration for the monarchy and described the state visit as one of the highest honours of his life.
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The BBC said the visit began with pageantry in Windsor, where the President and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in ornate carriages and inspected troops in the castle quadrangle. The Prince and Princess of Wales greeted them and held what palace aides called a “warm and friendly” private meeting. Inside St George’s Chapel, Trump showed keen interest in historic U.S. independence documents from the Royal Collection, calling them “the real deal.”
The BBC noted that the event was the largest guard of honour ever staged for a state visit, with about 1,300 personnel from the Army, Navy and RAF involved. The display, followed by a Red Arrows flypast, was seen as a message urging the U.S. to remain committed to NATO and to continue supporting Ukraine. A planned F-35 fighter jet display was cancelled due to weather.
The state visit, the BBC explained, moves next into political talks and a press conference as Trump meets Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers. Business leaders, including Apple’s Tim Cook and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, were among the guests at the banquet, reflecting a focus on trade and investment. The BBC reported that £150 billion in U.S. investments into the UK was announced alongside the visit, including £22 billion from Microsoft.
BBC coverage said the day mixed royal hospitality with diplomacy, aiming to leave a positive impression on the U.S. president. Trump also laid a wreath at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb, paying his respects. Gifts were exchanged, including the Buckingham Palace flag flown on the day of Trump’s 2025 inauguration.
According to the BBC, protests were held in London and some anti-Trump placards appeared in Windsor, though they were kept out of view of the visiting party. The anti-monarchy group Republic joined the demonstrations, with its chief executive saying democracy needed defending from “those who might undermine it, whether that be Charles or Trump.”
