The second state go to comes because the UK seeks to strengthen ties with the Trump administration.
LONDON—U.S. President Donald Trump started his two-day state go to to the UK on Sept. 17 by assembly with the royal household at Windsor Citadel.
The president and first girl arrived on the citadel, about 20 miles west of central London, round midday native time, the place they have been welcomed with a ceremony wealthy in pageantry.
The go to comes because the UK seeks to strengthen ties with the Trump administration, revise the lately signed commerce deal, tackle the battle in Ukraine, and expand cooperation in areas akin to nuclear power and synthetic intelligence.
Upon their arrival, the Trumps have been welcomed by the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, earlier than being formally acquired by King Charles and Queen Camilla. A royal salute was fired concurrently from the East Garden of Windsor Citadel and the Tower of London.
Earlier than departing for the UK on Sept. 16, Trump described King Charles as “my buddy,” saying their relationship goes again a very long time.
“He’s such a chic gentleman, and he represents the nation so nicely,” Trump mentioned of the king.
Queen Camilla took half within the welcome ceremony after lately stepping again from public occasions to get well from acute sinusitis.
Lavish Windsor Citadel Ceremony
The welcome ceremony continued with the royal household accompanying Trump and the primary girl on a carriage procession by means of the Windsor property.
Trump joined the king for the carriage procession, with the queen, First Girl Melania Trump, and the Prince and Princess of Wales following in separate carriages.
The route was lined with members of the British navy, accompanied by navy bands, which performed the U.S. and British nationwide anthems.
The navy band began taking part in “The Star-Spangled Banner” because the carriages moved clockwise across the gravel path, adopted by “God Save the King.”
Upon arriving on the Quadrangle of Windsor Citadel, the social gathering was greeted by a guard of honor made up of the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, and Scots Guards, a primary, as historically just one state shade is paraded at such an occasion, in keeping with Buckingham Palace.
The pipes and drums gave a royal salute and performed each nationwide anthems. Trump was then invited to examine the guard of honor.
The president and King Charles have been seen chatting and joking as they inspected the troops.
Following the ceremony, the king and queen led their visitors into the citadel for lunch within the State Eating Room.
After lunch, they considered a particular exhibition within the Inexperienced Drawing Room showcasing gadgets from the royal assortment associated to america. Within the afternoon, they visited St. George’s Chapel to put a personal wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II.
Later, the president and the primary girl joined the king and queen, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his spouse, together with U.S. and British navy households, to observe a navy ceremony on the citadel’s East Garden. The occasion concluded with a flyover of the Crimson Arrows, the Royal Air Drive Aerobatic Staff.
Within the night, the royal household hosted a state banquet at Windsor Citadel in honor of the president and the primary girl.
The president and first girl stayed on the citadel in a single day.
Trump’s final state visit to the UK happened in 2019 throughout his first time period, when he was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
This time, the royal household is internet hosting the Trumps in Windsor Citadel attributable to ongoing renovations at Buckingham Palace.
Second Day of Go to
On Thursday, Trump is predicted to carry a bilateral assembly with Starmer, adopted by a enterprise reception and a press convention.
“This historic second state go to is about to spotlight and renew the particular relationship between america and the UK,” a senior U.S. official said throughout a name previewing the journey. “On the similar time, the go to will acknowledge and have a good time the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of america.”
The president’s delegation contains Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Ambassador Warren Stephens, Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Chief of Employees Susie Wiles.
The go to will deal with boosting cooperation in science and expertise, civilian nuclear energy, protection expertise, and strengthening ties between the 2 nations’ monetary hubs, in keeping with the official.
The nuclear power deal that might be introduced throughout the bilateral assembly goals to “obtain full independence from Russian nuclear gas by 2028,” one other senior U.S. official mentioned.
On Sept. 16, each nations struck a technology pact that will convey $42 billion in investments from U.S. tech giants into the UK’s AI infrastructure, in keeping with an announcement issued by the UK authorities.
Beneath the “Tech Prosperity Deal,” the 2 nations would cooperate in advancing AI, quantum computing, and nuclear expertise.
Earlier than his departure, Trump famous that the UK needs to revise the commerce deal that was signed on June 16 by each nations.
“They wish to see if they will refine the commerce deal slightly bit. We made a deal, and it’s a terrific deal, and I’m into serving to them,” he added.
In London, small protests happened in opposition to Trump’s go to.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, wrote an op-ed about Trump’s go to.
Writing within the Guardian, the mayor mentioned: “We should additionally inform President Trump and his supporters to cease speaking down and denigrating our nice capital metropolis. London is a world success story, regardless of how a lot he needs to fake in any other case. It’s open, dynamic and safer than each US state when it comes to murder charges.”
Throughout a visit to the UK in July, Trump said the mayor had “accomplished a horrible job” in London.
In June 2019, forward of Trump’s first state go to to the UK, the president said Khan “ought to deal with crime in London” somewhat than on him.
Chris Summers contributed to this report.
In case you discovered this text attention-grabbing, please take into account supporting conventional journalism
Our first version was printed 25 years in the past from a basement in Atlanta. At this time, The Epoch Instances brings fact-based, award-winning journalism to hundreds of thousands of People.
Our journalists have been threatened, arrested, and assaulted, however our dedication to unbiased journalism has by no means wavered. This 12 months marks our twenty fifth 12 months of unbiased reporting, free from company and political affect.
That’s why you’re invited to a limited-time introductory provide — simply $1 per week — so you’ll be able to be part of hundreds of thousands already celebrating unbiased information.
