Trump greeted by royals as he arrives at Windsor Castle on first full day of state visit
by Press Association, https://www.thejournal.ie/author/press-association/ · TheJournal.ieLAST UPDATE | 18 hrs ago
US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have been welcomed into Windsor Castle by the UK’s King Charles and Queen Camilla, following a dramatic military procession.
Earlier, the Trumps were greeted by William and Kate in the Walled Garden on the Windsor estate.
In a unique move, which is just one of a number of flourishes being added to the American leader’s second state visit, the president’s Marine One helicopter landed on the lawn of the garden nestled in the private Home Park.
William and Kate greeted the Trumps as they disembarked and then walked with them the short distance to meet Charles and Camilla outside the little-known Victoria House to launch the historic trip.
The decision to use Victoria House in the Royal Kitchen Gardens at Frogmore as the backdrop to the start of the major royal charm offensive offers a personal, family-centred greeting especially for the president.
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But the welcome also embraces pomp and pageantry, and the military theatrics Trump is known to adore.
As the president shook hands with Charles, a 41-round gun salute fired from six First World War era guns on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle, while a salute was also staged more than 20 miles away at the Tower of London.
The scale and spectacle of the military ceremonial on show for Trump is unprecedented and marks the largest military ceremonial welcome for a state visit to the UK in living memory.
In total, around 120 horses and 1,300 members of the British military were involved in the ceremonial welcome at Windsor, with 160 personnel from the Royal Marines and Royal Navy, 1,000 from the British Army and 140 from the Royal Air Force.
The Trumps then joined Charles and Camilla, and William and Kate, for a carriage procession through the Windsor estate towards the Castle.
The processional route, which will not be open to the public, will be lined by 22 half-companies of personnel from throughout the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force.
As they make their way to the castle, the Trumps are expected to pass not far from Frogmore House, close to Frogmore Cottage, briefly home to Harry and Meghan before they quit the working monarchy and moved to America.
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Trump has previously hinted at possible tariff relief for UK steel ahead of talks with Keir Starmer at the Prime Minister’s country residence, Chequers, tomorrow.
James Roscoe, the UK’s charge d’affaires in Washington, was seen at Windsor taking a picture of the spectacle during Trump’s visit.
Roscoe is the most senior diplomat at the embassy in Washington following Lord Mandelson’s sacking as ambassador over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Other elements of the royal-focused first day include a visit to the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II in St George’s Chapel, lunch with the royal family, a special Beating Retreat ceremony with a flypast of UK and US F-35 fighter jets and the Red Arrows, and in the evening – to top off the royal celebrations – a lavish state banquet.
The Trumps will stay overnight in the 1,000-year-old castle as guests of the King and Queen.