UK rolls out red carpet for Trump

17/9/2025 18:57

U.S. President Donald Trump formally begins his unprecedented second state visit to Britain with the royal pomp a grand veneer to key diplomatic talks, and as difficult questions about Jeffrey Epstein linger.



King Charles and the royal family will roll out the red carpet for the president when he arrives at Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and family home to British monarchs for almost 1,000 years, with a carriage procession, gun salutes, a military flypast and lavish banquet.



Britain says it will be the largest military ceremonial welcome for a state visit in living memory.



Trump, an overt royal fan, has made little secret of his delight at being not just the first U.S. leader but the first elected politician to be invited by a British monarch for two visits.



Also included in the agenda, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hoping to use that sentiment to Britain's advantage as his government seeks to use the trip to cement the two nations' "special relationship", deepen economic ties, secure billions of dollars of investment.