US President Trump was welcomed at Windsor Castle with an unprecedented military parade. In London, however, thousands plan to demonstrate against him. An event at the castle earlier that evening had already caused a stir.
US President Donald Trump was received at Windsor Castle for his state visit to the United Kingdom. Alongside King Charles III, he and First Lady Melania were driven through the palace gardens in a magnificent carriage, accompanied by the national anthems of both countries.
Both were received by Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and his wife, Princess Kate. A grand state banquet will be held in the evening, at which time the King and Trump are each expected to deliver lengthy speeches.
Trump: Kingdom"very special place"
The United Kingdom is a "very special place" for him, Trump said shortly after arriving on Tuesday evening, adding that he"loves" it.
The US President is a big fan of the royal family. In 2019, he was received by Queen Elizabeth II on his first state visit. The scale of today's military ceremony in Windsor was"unprecedented," the British Ministry of Defence said. It was the largest welcoming ceremony in the United Kingdom in living memory.
Pictures of Epstein on the castle tower
In London, however, a very different mood prevailed. Thousands of people were expected to protest in the early afternoon. Police had announced that they would be dispatching more than 1,500 officers to accompany the protests. Meanwhile, Windsor remained largely calm. Supporters and opponents of the state visit, as well as crowds of journalists, gathered in front of one of the castle gates.
On Tuesday evening, practically at the same time as Air Force One landed at a London airport, activists caused a stir by projecting images of Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein onto a tower of Windsor Castle. Police later announced that four people had been arrested.
Epstein affair also hit the royal family
The scandal surrounding the US multimillionaire, who ran an abuse ring, has dogged Trump for months. Epstein, who, according to official reports, committed suicide in prison in 2019, had excellent contacts in American high society – including with Trump. However, the US president vehemently denies any involvement in Epstein's crimes.
In Great Britain, the Epstein scandal also affected the royal family. The brother of King Charles III, Prince Andrew, was friends with Epstein. One of the victims accused him of repeatedly abusing her as a minor. Andrew denied the allegations. A lawsuit ended in a settlement.
Just a few days ago, Prime Minister Keir Starmer had to recall his ambassador in Washington because he also had close ties to Epstein.
Meeting with Prime Minister Starmer
Trump's multi-day state visit continues politically on Thursday. He will meet with, among others, Starmer. Not in London, however, but at the remote Chequers country estate, about 80 kilometers northwest of London. Afterwards, both will attend a business reception and appear before the press.
The British government announced an agreement with Washington on billions of dollars in US investments in the areas of artificial intelligence, quantum technology and nuclear energy.
Hope for concessions in the customs dispute
Shortly before Trump's arrival, however, the Guardian newspaper, citing government sources, reported that the British hoped-for elimination of steel and aluminum tariffs would not happen for the time being. A further concession by Trump in the tariff dispute was considered the main argument for the second state visit, which was controversial in Great Britain.
In May, the two countries announced a deal that promised significantly lower tariffs for the United Kingdom's exports to the US than for other Western partners. Instead of the 50 percent imposed worldwide, British steel and aluminum exports would initially be subject to only 25 percent, and eventually eliminated entirely.
