At a white-tie banquet for 160 friends inside Windsor Fort on Wednesday night, the King known as the alliance between the 2 nations “a relationship which, with good cause, we and our predecessors have lengthy known as particular”.
President Trump responded that “particular doesn’t start to do it justice,” describing the transatlantic bond as “priceless and everlasting”.
Donald Trump’s two-day state go to started on Tuesday and can conclude on Thursday, ending with talks at Chequers with Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier than a proper farewell. In contrast to most state visits, the Trumps are based mostly at Windsor Fort fairly than Buckingham Palace – a symbolic shift highlighted by royal commentators.
Pageantry and politics
The Trumps have been welcomed to Windsor with full navy honours and met privately with senior royals, together with the Prince and Princess of Wales, earlier than the state banquet.
Additionally they visited the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II at St George’s Chapel, an unscheduled cease famous by officers as a gesture of respect.
On Thursday the president will meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers whereas the First Woman stays in Windsor for engagements with Queen Camilla and Catherine.
Downing Avenue stated the Trumps shall be introduced with a group of British presents at Chequers, together with a bespoke purple ministerial field, a silk scarf designed by Ukrainian youngsters and artist Mariya Dykalo, and a hamper of native treats comparable to home made jams and shortbread.
Commerce and tensions
The go to comes as London and Washington put together for a brand new spherical of commerce talks. Each governments hope to announce agreements protecting know-how and civil nuclear vitality, and to advance negotiations on tariffs affecting metal and aluminium. Officers stated the discussions may even discover digital commerce and cooperation on synthetic intelligence.
UK ministers used the go to to unveil greater than £150 billion ($192.6 billion) of deliberate US funding into British initiatives throughout vitality, know-how and infrastructure – a file inward-investment determine introduced throughout a state go to, in line with the Division for Enterprise and Commerce.
Each governments hope to construct on the £186.7 billion ($254.2 billion) in UK exports to the US and £115.3 billion ($157.1 billion) in UK imports from the US recorded in 2023, in line with the UK’s Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS), although remaining figures for 2024 and 2025 usually are not but out there.
However areas of friction stay. Washington has voiced considerations over British plans to manage on-line speech, whereas officials anticipate variations on Center East coverage to floor. The UK is predicted to assist Palestinian statehood on the United Nations subsequent week – a transfer the US opposes, warning it might embolden extremists and complicate Israel’s safety.
Regardless of the lavish welcome, the go to has not been with out incident. Photographs of President Trump and the late convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein have been projected onto Windsor Fort on Tuesday night time.
Police stated 4 males – aged 60, 50, 37 and 36 – have been arrested on suspicion of malicious communications after the stunt.
Outdoors Windsor and in central London, 1000’s of demonstrators gathered to protest Trump’s go to, carrying banners essential of each leaders and their insurance policies. Police reported peaceable however noisy marches by the capital all through Wednesday.
The episode adopted the dismissal of the UK’s ambassador to Washington, Lord Peter Mandelson, final week over his personal hyperlinks to Epstein, threatening to overshadow the go to.
A relationship celebrated
In his speech, King Charles highlighted the lengthy navy, cultural and financial ties between the 2 nations.
“Our individuals have fought and died collectively for the values we maintain expensive,” he stated. “At this time, our alliance spans each discipline of endeavour and exhibits huge potential for progress.”
The King additionally famous subsequent yr’s 250th anniversary of the USA’ Declaration of Independence, observing that “the insurgent commander and pioneering first president, George Washington, famously vowed by no means to set foot on British soil… immediately, nonetheless, we rejoice a relationship between our two international locations that absolutely neither Washington nor King George III might probably have imagined.”
Trump returned the reward, calling Charles “a really, very particular man” and lauding the enduring UK-US partnership.
King Charles’ state banquet speech transcript
“Mr President, Mrs Trump, it’s with nice pleasure that my spouse and I welcome you to Windsor Fort, on this, your second state go to to the UK.
This distinctive and vital event displays the enduring bond between our two nice nations. Anchored by the deep friendship between our individuals, this relationship which, with good cause, we and our predecessors have lengthy known as ‘particular’, has made us safer and stronger by the generations.
Our individuals have fought and died collectively for the values we maintain expensive. We’ve innovated, traded and created collectively, fuelling our economies and cultures by myriad types of change. We’ve celebrated collectively, mourned collectively and stood collectively in the very best and worst of occasions.
Mr President, as we strategy the 250th anniversary of the declaration of independence subsequent yr, it’s outstanding to suppose simply how far now we have come. I can’t assist however marvel what our forebears from 1776 would make of this friendship immediately.
The insurgent commander and pioneering first president, George Washington, famously vowed by no means to set foot on British soil. And my 5 occasions nice grandfather, King George III, for his half, didn’t spare his phrases when he spoke of the revolutionary leaders.
At this time, nonetheless, we rejoice a relationship between our two international locations that absolutely neither Washington nor King George III might probably have imagined. The ocean should still divide us, however in so many different methods we at the moment are the closest of kin. Mr President, you will have spoken of your pleasure in your British roots. In actual fact, not solely have you ever set foot on British soil twice within the final two months alone, however I perceive that British soil makes for fairly splendid golf programs!
Now in my view, I’ve at all times admired the ingenuity of the American individuals; and the rules of freedom which your nice democracy has represented since its inception. All through my life, from the very first go to to the USA in 1970 and over 20 visits since that point, I’ve cherished the shut ties between the British and American peoples.
In actual fact, had the media succeeded within the Nineteen Seventies in their very own try at deepening the particular relationship, I personally might need been married off throughout the Nixon household!
Mr President, from York to New York, from Birmingham, England, to Birmingham, Alabama, we’re united by a standard language and shared heritage. The numerous 1000’s of individuals from every of our international locations who’ve made the opposite their house have enriched our societies immeasurably — a truth that provides me the best pleasure.
Our cultural connections, too, proceed to flourish, with our actors, musicians, writers and tv presenters prospering within the hearts of transatlantic audiences.
At this time, our alliance spans each discipline of endeavour and exhibits huge potential for progress. The UK was your companion within the first commerce deal of your administration, Mr President, bringing jobs and progress to each our international locations. And little question we are able to go even additional as we construct this new period of our partnership.
Our two nations have an distinctive legacy of shared discovery. Collectively, we laid the foundations of nuclear science, mapped the human genome and constructed the web, upon which all modern commerce, communication and defence relies. Collectively, our scientists and engineers are shaping the world of tomorrow, not least with new partnership agreements on know-how, and the prosperity that stands to deliver.
Our international locations have the closest defence, safety and intelligence relationship ever identified. In two world wars, we fought collectively to defeat the forces of tyranny. At this time, as tyranny as soon as once more threatens Europe, we and our allies stand collectively in assist of Ukraine, to discourage aggression and safe peace. And our Aukus submarine partnership, with Australia, units the benchmark for progressive and important collaboration.
The successors of the British Redcoats and of George Washington’s Continental Military immediately stand shoulder-to-shoulder, brothers and sisters in arms, defending the freedoms we each cherish. Our international locations are working collectively in assist of essential diplomatic efforts, not least of which, Mr President, is your individual private dedication to discovering options to a number of the world’s most intractable conflicts, as a way to safe peace.
In striving collectively for a greater world, we even have a treasured alternative to safeguard and to revive the wonders and great thing about nature for the generations who observe us. We share the ambition, and willpower, to protect our majestic lands and waters; above all, to make sure that now we have clear water, clear air and clear meals.
Our legacy for the following 250 years and past is to make sure that our youngsters, grandchildren, and people who come after them, can expertise the awe and magnificence of the pure treasures discovered within the countryside, on the coasts, within the seas and within the nationwide parks established by your predecessors and mine.
Mr President, Mrs Trump — the bond between our two nations is certainly a outstanding one. Cast within the hearth of battle, it has been fortified by our shared endeavours and burnished by the deep affection between our individuals. Examined repeatedly, it has borne the burden of our widespread objective and raised our ambition for a greater world.
So in renewing our bond tonight, we accomplish that with unshakeable belief in our friendship and in our shared dedication to independence and liberty.
Subsequently, as we rejoice this unparalleled partnership, permit me to suggest a toast – to President Trump and the First Woman, and to the well being, prosperity and happiness of the individuals of the USA of America.”
