Trump and King Charles Attend Prestigious Military Ceremony Amid Mass Protests Over State Visit

Marking the close of a pomp-filled day at Windsor Castle for President Donald Trump and his wife, First Lady Melania, the pair attended a traditional "Beating Retreat" ceremony, where they were welcomed by a military band procession.

Trump and the First Lady sat alongside King Charles III and Queen Camilla on a raised platform as U.S. military band members from the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps conducted a performance. This was followed by a display from the bagpipe players of the Scots Guards. Trump has a close connection to Scotland, as his mother Mary was a Scottish immigrant.

As the music came to a crescendo, British Red Arrow jets flew overhead, with red, white and blue smoke trials of the Union Jack flag following behind. U.S. F-35 fighter jets were scheduled to appear in a joint flypast, but pulled out of the ceremony, reportedly due to the poor weather conditions.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was in attendance at the special event, as was U.K. Defence Secretary John Healey and other British government and military officials.

Alongside King Charles, Trump interacted with various British military personnel, before retiring ahead of the highly-anticipated state banquet.

Here's what else took place during the first day of Trump's second state visit:

Trump lays wreath on tomb of Queen Elizabeth II

Trump and Melania were treated to a tour of St. George's Chapel.

Marking a special moment during the unprecedented second state visit, Trump was greeted by the Dean of Windsor, the Rt. Rev. Christopher Cocksworth, and the Chapter Clerk, Miss Charlotte Manley.

Many former monarchs are buried in St. George's Chapel, including Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September 2022.

Trump has often spoken fondly of the longest-reigning British Head of State. Upon hearing of her death, the President called Elizabeth II’s reign “remarkable” and noted how she had left a “tremendous legacy.”

“She will always be remembered for her faithfulness to her country and her unwavering devotion to her fellow countrymen and women,” said Trump.

Calling Her Majesty an “incredible lady” after his first state visit to the U.K. in 2019, Trump said: “I feel I know her so well and she certainly knows me very well right now, but we [the U.S.] have a very good relationship also with the United Kingdom.”

Trump and Melania laid a wreath on Elizabeth II's tomb during their private tour of the chapel.

Trump admires special collection relating to the U.S.

Following lunch, the royal family invited the Trumps to view an exhibition of a special royal collection of items in the Green Drawing Room of Windsor Castle. Many of the artefacts have a strong connection to the U.S.

The collection includes a letter written by King George III to Lord Frederick North, the British Prime Minister, during the American revolution, regarding the state of rebellions along the East Coast just two years before the declaration of Independence.

Trump has long praised the "special relationship" and history between the U.S. and U.K. When welcoming Starmer to the White House in February, the President said: "The U.S. and U.K. share a special relationship, one like no other, passed down through the centuries."

Prior to viewing the special collection at Windsor, the King and Queen reportedly exchanged gifts with the President and First Lady. A Union Jack flag that flew above Buckingham Palace on Trump’s Inauguration Day was gifted, alongside a silver and enamel bowl featuring the Queen’s cypher, and a silver photograph frame engraved with the King and Queen’s joint cypher. In return, the Trumps offered a replica of a President Eisenhower sword to Charles and a Tiffany & Co. vintage 18K gold, diamond, and ruby flower brooch to the Queen, Sky News reported.

Read More: Trump and Epstein Photos Projected Onto Windsor Castle as Protesters Rally Against President’s U.K. State Visit

Trump is greeted by Prince William and Kate Middleton

Trump and his wife, First Lady Melania, were greeted by Britain's Prince William, heir to King Charles III, and his wife Kate Middleton as they touched down on the grounds of Windsor Castle on Wednesday morning. Regiments of the Royal Guard were also in position, per tradition, to mark the start of the presidential visit.

Trump could be seen shaking hands with Kate and William, with the group exchanging pleasantries as they made their way through the grounds of the royal estate.

After a brief meeting with King Charles III, Trump took part in a royal carriage procession while seated next to His Majesty. Camilla and Melania rode behind in a separate carriage, as more than 1,000 British military personnel lined the route. The horse-drawn carriages were decorated heavily with gold leaf, similar to that of Trump’s decor in the Oval Office since his second term at the White House.

Other U.S. officials, including Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, followed behind in another carriage.

Trump and Charles inspected a British Army guard of honor in the Quadrangle, an interior lawn at the royal residence. They then moved inside where Charles and Camilla hosted a private lunch for their U.S. guests.

President Trump and Melania previously met with Charles and Camilla for his first state visit to the U.K. in 2019, during which they attended a state banquet together at Buckingham Palace alongside the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Before leaving for the U.K. on Tuesday, Trump referred to the British monarch as his “friend” when speaking to reporters outside the White House.

Read More: Trump and Epstein Photos Projected Onto Windsor Castle as Protesters Rally Against President’s U.K. State Visit

Read More: ‘Go Away’: Major Anti-Trump Demonstration Unfolds in London as Protesters Rally Against President’s U.K. State Visit

Anti-Trump protests overshadow the President's arrival in the U.K.

Although Trump received a warm royal welcome at Windsor Castle on Wednesday morning, protests unfolded at the regal residence as he touched down in the U.K. the evening before. The activist group Led by Donkeys projected images of the U.S. President with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle.

Following the incident, police arrested four people on suspicion of malicious communications.

On Monday, protesters had unveiled a large banner emblazoned with an image of Trump and Epstein on the lawn outside Windsor Castle. The banner, which has since been removed, was organized by the political campaign group Everyone Hates Elon.

Protests continued across the U.K. on Wednesday, with a major demonstration taking place in London. In 2019, during Trump’s last state visit to the U.K., an estimated 125,000 people attended a large-scale protest in the capital.