Donald Trump has hailed the so-called special relationship between the United States and Britain as 'priceless and eternal' during a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle hosted by King Charles. The president, on his second state visit to the UK, described the honour as one of the highest of his life, even as thousands of protesters gathered in London to express their opposition.
In a speech at the banquet, Trump declared that the bond between the two nations was 'irreplaceable and unbreakable', adding that 'the word special does not begin to do it justice'. His effusive praise is likely to bolster Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who hopes the visit will deepen economic ties and secure billions of dollars in investment.
Britain rolled out the full ceremonial welcome, with a carriage procession lined by 1,300 service personnel. Among the guests was media mogul Rupert Murdoch, seated far from the president, despite Trump having sued him over an article about Jeffrey Epstein. Tech executives from Nvidia and OpenAI also attended, reflecting major deals announced during the visit.
Earlier, the Trumps laid a wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II at St George's Chapel. King Charles, in his speech, recalled that the UK was partner in the first trade deal of Trump's administration and called for further progress. Meanwhile, an estimated 5,000 protesters marched near Parliament, highlighting Trump's unpopularity in Britain.
Thursday's discussions will turn to geopolitics and trade, with Starmer seeking to secure further concessions on tariffs and deepen investment pledges. The visit underscores the balancing act for the prime minister, who must leverage royal pageantry to achieve concrete outcomes while managing domestic political pressures.
