President Donald Trump arrived in the United Kingdom for his second official state visit on Wednesday, greeted with both regal pageantry at Windsor Castle and loud protests in the streets.
Trump, joined by First Lady Melania Trump, was welcomed by King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine. The ceremonial reception included horses, gilded carriages, and an inspection of the guard of honor on the castle grounds — a display that underscored Britain’s effort to strengthen its trade and security ties with Washington.
The royal family presented Trump with items from the Royal Collection, including an 18th-century letter from King George III about the American colonies and a condolence letter from President Abraham Lincoln to Queen Victoria. King Charles gifted Trump the Union flag that flew above Buckingham Palace on the day of Trump’s second inauguration, while Trump offered a replica of a sword once belonging to President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
On Thursday, Trump will travel to Chequers, the prime minister’s country estate, to meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The leaders are expected to sign a Tech Prosperity Deal valued at over $40 billion, which includes major investments in Britain by U.S. tech giants such as NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Google. Discussions will also cover NATO policy, the Russia-Ukraine war, and energy cooperation. Trump has recently pushed European allies to cut their reliance on Russian oil before expecting increased U.S. support for Kyiv.
But while the White House emphasizes the symbolism of the U.S.-U.K. alliance and the 250th anniversary of American independence, Trump’s visit has been far from universally celebrated. Protests erupted ahead of his arrival, with demonstrators projecting images of Trump alongside the late Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle’s walls. Polls show that more than 60% of Britons hold an unfavorable view of the U.S. president.
In Windsor, some waved signs and Ukrainian flags, voicing outrage over Trump’s handling of Ukraine and his strained meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this year. “I’ve never been to a protest before, but I felt compelled to come,” said Lynn Iliffe, a retired health worker who traveled from the Midlands.
Others, however, showed support. Windsor college student Alana Burnett wore a red MAGA hat and praised Trump’s immigration stance. “I think our country could take a few notes from him,” she said.
Trump’s U.K. visit, blending palatial tradition with hard policy negotiations, continues Thursday with high-stakes talks at Chequers before closing with a state banquet and joint press conference.
