The president and First Lady Melania Trump stepped out of ornate carriages inside the castle’s scenic quadrangle, before an inspection of troops on perfectly-prepared lawns.
Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales were also there to welcome the US visitors, as a band played the Stars and Stripes in this royal charm offensive, which has seen gifts, parades and a flypast.
Trump’s historic second state visit has already been a crowded mix of royal pageantry, trade talks and international politics.
There seemed to be friendly moments between the King and President Trump as they watched the ceremonial parade.
The King jokingly seemed to be warning the president to watch out for the sword of one of the soldiers on parade.
President Trump showed great interest when he was shown around St George’s Chapel, saying: “What a place, what a place” and looking at the Royal Collection’s historic documents about US independence, he commented: “The real deal.”
There was a private meeting too between President Trump and the Prince and Princess of Wales. When the president arrived at Windsor, he appeared to tell Catherine that she looked “beautiful”.
The president has been a long-time admirer of the late Queen Elizabeth and he laid a wreath and paid his respects at her tomb in Windsor.
And official gifts were exchanged:
- President Trump was given a leather volume celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US declaration of independence and the flag that was flying over Buckingham Palace on the day of Trump’s inauguration in January 2025.
- Melania Trump was given an Anya Hindmarch handbag and a silver bowl made by Northern Irish artist, Cara Murphy.
- The King was given a symbolic reminder of the military alliance between the UK and US, with a replica of President Eisenhower’s sword.
- For Queen Camilla, there was the gift of a Tiffany gold, diamond and ruby brooch.
The Queen is playing a full part in the visit, having recovered from a health problem, acute sinusitis, which saw her missing the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on Tuesday.
In response to the drizzly weather, the carriages were covered over for their procession around the Windsor estate.
Some of the most senior figures in Trump’s administration – including his Secretary of State Marco Rubio and overseas envoy Steve Witkoff – also took part in the carriage parade.
It’s been a day of events intended to make a positive impression on the president, in a shock-and-awe display of pageantry.
With1,300 service men and women from the Army, Royal Navy and RAF taking part, this was the largest ever guard of honour plannedfor a state visit to the UK.
Themuch bigger than usual military line-up for the state visitcomes as the UK government wants to encourage the US to maintain its commitment to Nato and support Ukraine.
But unlike other recent state visits, there are no moments visible to the public, with all the events taking place behind the walls of the Windsor estate or at the PM’s country estate, Chequers.
A protest against the visit is being held in London, but there were also anti-Trump placards in Windsor, out of sight from the US visitors.
Protesters included the anti-monarchy group Republic, whose chief executive, Graham Smith said: “It’s time to fix our democracy and defend the country from those who might want to undermine what democratic rights we have, whether that be Charles or Trump.”
