London: US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in London on Tuesday evening for their second State Visit to the United Kingdom, hosted at the invitation of King Charles III.
Air Force One landed at Stansted Airport, where the couple were received by US Ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens and Viscount Henry Hood, the King’s Lord-in-Waiting. Speaking to reporters, Trump said: “They’re friends of mine for a long time, long before he was King, and it’s an honor to have him as King. I think he represents the country so well, I’ve watched, he’s such an elegant gentleman.” He also noted that it was the first time an American President had been “honored twice” with a State Visit.
The official welcome will take place on Wednesday morning at Windsor Castle, where the Prince and Princess of Wales will greet the US First Couple before they meet King Charles and Queen Camilla. The ceremony will include a Royal Salute fired from the East Lawn and the Tower of London, followed by a carriage procession through the Windsor estate escorted by the Household Cavalry.
Buckingham Palace said a Guard of Honor comprising the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards would be on parade, with three State Colors displayed together for the first time. The Guard will be joined by a massed band and the Pipes and Drums, which will perform the national anthems of both nations. Trump will then inspect the Guard of Honor alongside the King.
The program also includes a grand lunch in the State Dining Room, a viewing of artefacts from the Royal Collection, and a private wreath-laying by Trump at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II in St George’s Chapel. The couple will also attend a musical performance by the chapel choir. Later, a Beating Retreat ceremony and a joint UK-US military flypast are planned, weather permitting. The day will conclude with a State Banquet at Windsor Castle, where both Trump and King Charles are expected to deliver speeches.
On Thursday, Trump will take part in a formal farewell ceremony at Windsor before travelling to Chequers for bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The meeting will be followed by a tour of Winston Churchill’s archives, a business reception hosted by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and a joint press conference.
The visit coincides with announcements of major US investments in the UK. Google has confirmed a £5 billion commitment to Britain’s artificial intelligence sector, including a new data centre in Hertfordshire. Earlier, the government announced £1.25 billion in fresh US investment in financial services.
UK Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said the developments reflected the strength of the “golden corridor” between the two nations.
Meanwhile, protests are expected in both Windsor and London, prompting one of the largest security operations ever mounted for a State Visit.