Queen Camilla, King Charles III, U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the Beating Retreat military ceremony at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on September 17, 2025.

| Photo Credit: Reuters

LondonU.S. President Donald Trump arrived in the U.K. on Tuesday (September 16, 2025) night for a two-day State visit filled with pageantry as Britain tried to stay on the good side of the unpredictable leader, deploying all the soft power it could muster via the British Royal family.Mr. Trump, whose mother was Scottish, has professed a fondness for both the U.K. and the Royal family — sentiments the Keir Starmer government appeared to be capitalising on with a second State visit, unprecedented for a U.S. President.After landing at London’s Stansted Airport, Mr. Trump and U.S. First Lady Melania spent the night at Winfield House, a 12-acre property in central London gifted by the British to the Americans after World War II and home to the American ambassador.Shortly after noon on Wednesday (September 17, 2025), the Trumps were ferried by Marine One, the official presidential chopper, to Windsor Castle, where they were greeted by William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, before joining Britain’s monarch King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen. The couples were taken around the grounds in horse-drawn carriages and Mr. Trump was presented with a guard of honour. Mr. Trump also viewed the Scots Guard, an acknowledgement of his Scottish heritage.After a private lunch — which reportedly was attended only by the Trumps, the King and Queen, and William and Catherine, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester — the Trumps viewed an art exhibition and took a private tour of St George’s Chapel, where Mr. Trump laid a wreath for the late Queen Elizabeth II, who is buried there.In the afternoon the Trumps attended a U.K.-U.S. military band parade with the King and Queen. The theme was the Anglo-American alliance, with the band playing tunes of significance to both countries: ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’ — a tune from the American Civil War — and the British patriotic song ‘Land of Hope and Glory’.There was meant to be a fly past with U.K. Red Arrows and American F-35s but the latter aircraft did not join in due to bad weather. The Trumps attended a State banquet at night at Windsor Castle, where they are scheduled to spend the night.In addition to his wife, Mr. Trump was accompanied by his daughter Tiffany Trump, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, (Acting) National Security Adviser and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, his special ‘Middle East’ envoy Steve Witkoff and others.On Thursday (September 18, 2025), Mr. Trump is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Mr. Starmer. With major tech investments in the U.K. on the anvil, several tech leaders, including Apple’s Tim Cook, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, are expected to be present.The two sides will also announce a nuclear energy pact as well as discussing tariffs — especially on British steel and Aluminium exports to the U.S.Also read: Trump’s U.K. state visit put Starmer’s leadership into testWhile the focus is what brings them together, there are differences between London and Washington — and not just on trade. On the Israel-Gaza conflict for instance, the U.K. is possibly about to recognise Palestine, while the U.S. has no plans to do so. London is also hoping for more support from Washington for Ukraine in its war against Russia.The public has been kept at bay with parts of Windsor barricaded up for the visit. Not all are happy with the visit. Protesters from diverse groups — pro-Palestinian activists, climate activists and pro-EU anti-Brexit demonstrators — gathered in central London to protest the visit.Four men were arrested on Tuesday (September 16, 2025) night after images of Mr. Trump and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (now deceased) were projected onto Windsor Castle. U.S. Democrats have been scrutinising the extent and nature of links between Mr. Trump and Epstein. The White House has denied that a message in Epstein’s 50th birthday book, published by the Democrats, was written by Mr. Trump. Published - September 17, 2025 11:58 am IST