President Donald Trump’s second state visit to the United Kingdom unfolded with all the trappings of royal pageantry, high-stakes diplomacy, and a fair share of public dissent. Over two eventful days—September 17 and 18, 2025—the president and First Lady Melania Trump were received by King Charles III at Windsor Castle, attended a lavish state banquet, and engaged in talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, the prime minister’s storied country residence.
Trump’s arrival marked a historic milestone: he became the first elected political leader in modern times to be hosted for two state visits by a British monarch, having previously visited Queen Elizabeth II in 2019, as ABC News reported. This time, the visit was meticulously orchestrated to celebrate the enduring “special relationship” between the U.S. and U.K.—and to highlight the upcoming 250th anniversary of America’s founding in 2026.
The ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle was nothing short of spectacular. Trump and Melania, after spending the night at Winfield House, were greeted in the castle’s Walled Garden by Prince William and Kate Middleton. Following the king’s formal welcome, the couple was whisked away in a golden royal carriage, a scene captured by photographers and shared widely by Axios. The ceremonial reception included the largest guard of honor ever organized for a state visit to the U.K., with around 1,300 members of the British armed forces and 120 horses participating, according to ABC News.
Inside Windsor Castle, the Trumps were treated to a curated display of artifacts from the Royal Collection, symbolizing the long and storied relationship between the two nations. The president appeared genuinely impressed, at one point exclaiming, “That is so amazing,” as a guide explained the historical significance of the items on display. Later, Trump and his key advisors—including Scott Bessent, Marco Rubio, Susie Wiles, James Blair, Steve Witkoff, and Stephen Miller—attended a service at St. George’s Chapel. There, they laid a wreath on Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb, and a children’s choir filled the chapel with song.
But the pageantry didn’t end there. The evening saw the first-ever Beating Retreat musical performance at a state visit, featuring more than 200 military personnel and culminating in a dramatic flyover by the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows, who painted the sky with red, white, and blue smoke. The spectacle underscored the deep military and cultural ties between the two countries.
While the president was feted inside Windsor, thousands of protesters gathered in central London, holding up “Dump Trump” signs and the now-iconic “baby Trump balloon.” Many demonstrators also waved Palestinian flags, reflecting global tensions and the polarizing effect of Trump’s presidency. The Stop Trump campaign, as reported by ABC News and Axios, organized the march toward Parliament, ensuring the president’s presence was met with both pomp and protest.
The state banquet at Windsor Castle brought together not only British royalty and American dignitaries but also a veritable who’s who of the global business and tech world. Guests included Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, Rupert Murdoch, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The evening’s remarks were steeped in symbolism and mutual respect. King Charles III, referencing the upcoming U.S. anniversary, toasted the Trumps and reflected on shared sacrifices: “Our people have fought and died together for the values we hold dear. The ocean may still divide us, but in so many ways we are now the closest of kin.”
President Trump, in his address, praised the U.K.’s historical contributions to law and liberty and emphasized the “irreplaceable bond” between the two nations. “Together, we must defend the exceptional heritage that makes us who we are, and we must continue to stand for the values and the people of the English-speaking world, and we do indeed stand for that,” Trump declared. He also made a pointed comment about the country’s recovery, stating, “We had a sick country a year ago, and now we have the hottest country.”
The first lady’s engagements added a softer touch to the proceedings. Melania Trump joined Catherine, Princess of Wales, for a visit with the Scouts’ Squirrels—a program for 4- to 6-year-olds—at Frogmore Gardens. The pair, accompanied by chief scout Dwayne Fields, participated in arts and crafts, with Melania drawing a brown bear and making leaf prints alongside the children. According to CNN, the event highlighted both women’s advocacy for childhood well-being and outdoor education. Later, Melania toured the Royal Library with Queen Camilla, marveling at miniature books and rare treasures, and even viewing Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, the world’s largest of its kind.
Beyond the pageantry, the visit had significant diplomatic and economic undertones. On September 18, Trump traveled to Chequers for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The agenda was weighty: Russia’s war in Ukraine, Israel’s war in Gaza, and trade were all on the table. The two leaders were joined by tech CEOs, including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, who used the occasion to announce a £500 million ($681 million) investment in NScale, a UK cloud computing firm. Huang predicted the U.K. could become an “AI superpower,” noting that Nvidia was selling 120,000 chips to help the country build a supercomputer “100 times larger than the fastest one currently in the country.”
However, not everyone was convinced. Nick Clegg, Meta’s former president of global affairs and the U.K.’s former deputy prime minister, expressed skepticism about the AI industry’s promises, warning the U.K. risked getting “sloppy seconds from Silicon Valley” and criticizing the tech deals as “mutton dressed as lamb.” Environmental concerns were also raised about the energy demands of new AI data centers, as reported by CNN.
The economic impact of the visit was substantial. The British government announced that it had secured £150 billion ($205 billion) in investment from U.S. companies, expected to create over 7,600 jobs. Still, the cost of hosting such a grand event remains a point of contention. While British authorities have yet to disclose the price tag for Trump’s 2025 visit, his 2019 trip cost the U.K. around £3.9 million ($5.3 million), mostly for policing and security.
Trump’s itinerary was notably more secluded than in 2019, with less time spent in London and fewer opportunities for direct interaction with the British public—perhaps a deliberate move given the scale of protests. Yet, the symbolism of his engagements with the royal family, the scale of the military honors, and the high-level economic announcements all pointed to a renewed commitment to the transatlantic alliance.
As Trump wrapped up his visit at Chequers, the world watched to see what would emerge from his talks with Starmer and whether the “special relationship” would weather the turbulent tides of global politics. For now, the spectacle, the deals, and even the protests have reaffirmed that the U.S.-U.K. partnership remains as complex, consequential, and captivating as ever.