President Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump, are scheduled to spend a full day with the British royal family on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, just outside London. This marks the beginning of a two-day state visit, a lavish affair steeped in the kind of pomp and grandeur that has previously delighted the president.
The itinerary includes a majestic carriage ride through the historic Windsor estate and a state dinner hosted by King Charles III at the 900-year-old castle. In a poignant moment, Mr. and Mrs. Trump are expected to visit St. George’s Chapel to lay a wreath at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II. Following Wednesday’s engagements, the Trumps plan to spend the night at Windsor Castle before the president’s scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday.
This state visit represents a concerted effort by the British government to maintain engagement with a president who, having returned to office, appears even less inclined to uphold the established post-World War II global order. The very fact that Mr. Trump has been extended a second state visit to Britain – following his initial one in 2019 – is an extraordinary diplomatic gesture, one no other American president has received.
“My relationship is very good with the U.K., and Charles, as you know, who’s now king, is my friend,” Mr. Trump remarked from the White House south lawn on Tuesday morning before his departure for Britain. “And it’s the first time this has ever happened where somebody was honored twice, so it’s a great honor.” He was visibly charmed by the chosen venue, asking, “They say Windsor Castle is the ultimate, right?” (Buckingham Palace, the site of his first state visit, is currently undergoing renovations.)
Here’s what else is unfolding:
- Two-day visit: After the royal spectacle on Wednesday, the president will travel to Chequers, the prime minister’s country estate, on Thursday for a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The two leaders are anticipated to finalize several deals and hold a joint news conference.
- U.K. upheaval: Over the past weekend, a protest led by anti-immigrant activist Tommy Robinson drew more than 100,000 people through London, marking one of Britain’s largest far-right demonstrations in history. Elon Musk, a former adviser to Mr. Trump who frequently amplifies Mr. Robinson on social media, delivered a virtual address to the demonstrators. In his speech, he advocated for a change in government and used inflammatory language about immigration, warning Britons: “Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you.” Prime Minister Starmer publicly condemned these remarks.
- Epstein ties: While Mr. Trump may have hoped to leave domestic political tensions behind, the controversy surrounding the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to cast a shadow over his trip. British activists marked Mr. Trump’s arrival on Tuesday by projecting an image of the president with Mr. Epstein onto the walls of Windsor Castle and unfurling a massive banner depicting the same image across the castle’s lawn. Just last week, Prime Minister Starmer dismissed his ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, due to his connections with Mr. Epstein. Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Starmer are expected to face inquiries about the ongoing Epstein saga.
Security plans for Trump’s visit are the biggest since the coronation of King Charles III.
British authorities have implemented the most extensive protective security operation since the 2023 coronation of King Charles III in anticipation of President Trump’s state visit. This formidable security detail includes the deployment of drones, snipers, mounted police, and boat teams patrolling the River Thames.
While every visit by a foreign head of state to Britain necessitates substantial policing efforts, experts indicate that the recent fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk in Utah last week, along with the attempted assassination of Mr. Trump last year, has significantly heightened concerns regarding potential threats.
Mr. Trump arrived in London on Tuesday evening and is set to participate in a series of engagements with the royal family at Windsor Castle, located west of London, on Wednesday. He will then spend Thursday with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, the prime minister’s country residence.
During a news briefing on Monday, British police confirmed that Mr. Trump’s schedule would deliberately keep him away from public spaces throughout the state visit.
“Both the Windsor visit and meeting at Chequers are in the private grounds of Windsor and Chequers, respectively,” stated Christian Bunt, assistant chief constable for the Thames Valley Police, the force overseeing the visit. “So there will be no public-facing element.”
Simon Morgan, a former Metropolitan Police royalty protection officer, commented that the assassination of Mr. Kirk would compel officials planning the operation to intensify efforts to ensure that no potential vantage point for a “shot” is left unsecured.
“They will be seeking to control every aspect of the space, both in terms of on the ground and in the air,” explained Mr. Morgan, who served as a firearms officer in the Metropolitan Police for over a decade, protecting the royal family from 2006 to 2013, and now operates a private security firm.
To reinforce local forces during the trip, armed police officers from across England and Wales – where only 4 percent of officers are authorized to carry firearms – are being dispatched to London and Windsor.
U.S. tech companies are expected to announce billions in new British deals during Trump’s visit.
President Trump’s visit to Britain this week is serving as a platform for some of America’s leading tech companies to announce over $40 billion in new investments aimed at artificial intelligence, data centers, and other cutting-edge technologies.
Microsoft has committed to investing approximately $30 billion in Britain over four years, which includes the development of a new supercomputer in collaboration with the British firm Nscale. Google also announced plans to open a new data center as part of a two-year investment totaling about $6.8 billion. Furthermore, OpenAI and semiconductor giant Nvidia are jointly developing a new AI data center, named Stargate UK, also with Nscale.
Mr. Trump’s two-day state visit, hosted by King Charles III, mirrors the pattern of his trip to the Persian Gulf in May. During that visit to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Mr. Trump engaged with government officials and members of their royal families, facilitating business deals that involved American tech companies.
Tech executives, including Satya Nadella from Microsoft and Sam Altman from OpenAI, are expected to accompany Mr. Trump in Britain.
These agreements further solidify the economic and technological ties between the United States and Britain, coming just three months after the two nations finalized a trade deal. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the agreement, stating it “marks a generational step change in our relationship with the U.S.”
Microsoft, Google, and other major tech players have been expanding their presence in Europe, even as European nations express growing concerns about their reliance on American tech companies for critical services. European officials have actively sought assurances from American firms regarding data protection and the secure storage of information within European data centers.
British officials confirmed that this week’s announcements are projected to create 5,000 jobs and boost research in fields such as AI, quantum computing, drug discovery, and nuclear energy. The deals will also provide Britain with approximately 120,000 of Nvidia’s advanced semiconductors, essential for AI development, which the government highlighted as the largest supply in Europe to date.
Protesters unveil visual stunts aimed at highlighting Trump’s ties to Epstein.
British activists, voicing their displeasure over President Trump’s state visit this week, staged protests upon his arrival. They projected an image of Mr. Trump alongside Jeffrey Epstein onto the historic walls of Windsor Castle and unfurled a massive banner displaying the same picture across the castle’s grassy lawn.
President Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump, arrived in London on Tuesday night. Their schedule for Wednesday includes engagements at Windsor Castle, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Mr. Trump is also slated to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his country residence, Chequers, on Thursday.
Police promptly intervened to halt both political demonstrations and made arrests related to the projection. Representatives of the group responsible for the banner stated that their objective was to embarrass the president by drawing attention to his past association with the convicted sex trafficker.
The banner was organized by the group “Everyone Hates Elon,” which has previously conducted similar protests in Britain targeting billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk.
Mr. Trump’s current trip to Britain, where he faces considerable public disapproval, has also prompted a television special by Channel 4, a public broadcaster. This special aims to fact-check questionable claims made by him during his presidency, coinciding with a planned demonstration in the streets of London on Wednesday.
His first state visit in 2019 similarly sparked large protests, with many Britons expressing a sentiment that he was unwelcome.
In recent months, Mr. Trump has repeatedly attempted to deflect public scrutiny over his ties to Mr. Epstein, who was arrested on sex trafficking charges in 2019 before his death in prison. Lawmakers recently released documents detailing the financier’s association with Mr. Trump, who has consistently dismissed the Epstein case as a “hoax.”
The banner unfurled by “Everyone Hates Elon” measured approximately 65 feet long and 65 feet wide, funded by around 2,000 crowdsourced donors, according to a spokeswoman for the group.
The images of Mr. Trump and Mr. Epstein were reportedly projected onto Windsor Castle’s towers by another group named “Led By Donkeys,” known for similar past stunts. These images were also shared on the group’s Instagram account.
Felicity Parker, chief superintendent of the Thames Valley Police, confirmed in a statement that officers “responded swiftly to stop the projection” and arrested four individuals on suspicion of malicious communications, a minor offense.
On Wednesday, the first day of Mr. Trump’s state visit, protesters are expected to gather in London and march towards Parliament Square.
That same Wednesday night, Channel 4 is scheduled to broadcast several hours of what it described as the “untruths, falsehoods and distortions” spoken by Mr. Trump since January, interspersed with fact-checks.
“We hope it will remind viewers how disorientating and dangerous the world becomes when the most powerful man on earth shows little regard for the truth,” said Ian Katz, Channel 4’s chief content officer, in a statement.
Here’s what to expect during Trump’s U.K. visit.
President Trump and his wife, Melania, arrived in Britain on Tuesday night for a two-day state visit, hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla. This marks Mr. Trump’s second state visit, an unusual honor for a foreign dignitary.
When do the events begin?
On Wednesday, a guard of honor will greet the Trumps upon their midday arrival at Windsor Castle, a royal residence and fortress steeped in over 900 years of history. They will enjoy lunch with the royal family, and Mr. Trump will witness a spectacular fly-past by the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force’s aerobatics display team, alongside American F-35 military jets.
The day will also feature a military event known as Beating Retreat, a vibrant exhibition of music and drill.
Wednesday evening will conclude with a traditional white-tie banquet held at Windsor Castle, where both Mr. Trump and King Charles are expected to deliver speeches.
What happens Thursday?
On Thursday, the president will travel to Chequers, the official country residence of Britain’s Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. The two leaders are scheduled to explore the Winston Churchill archives at Chequers and participate in a business reception.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Starmer are also expected to hold a joint news conference on Thursday.
Mrs. Trump will remain at Windsor, where she will tour Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House with Queen Camilla, and later join Catherine, Princess of Wales, at Frogmore Gardens for an event with Britain’s Scouts Association.
Are protests planned?
Yes. On Wednesday, organizers have planned a demonstration in London, culminating in a march to Parliament Square.
However, the state visit program has been carefully designed to limit security risks and minimize opportunities for protesters to directly confront a president who is broadly unpopular with the British public. The carriage procession, for instance, will occur entirely within the private royal grounds at Windsor, and the official agenda avoids public events in central London.