Trump UK visit live: King and president set for lavish state banquet after thousands protest in London – UK Times

The King has begun his speech at tonight’s state banquet.

He began with celebrating the UK’s “special relationship” with the US.

“This relationship which with good reason we and our predecessors have long called special have made us safer and stronger through the generations,” he said.

“We have celebrated together, mourned together and stood together in the best and worst of times.”

The Princess of Wales glittered in a couture gown by British designer Phillipa Lepley with a full-length, hand-embroidered champagne gold Chantilly lace evening coat over a silk crepe gown at the state banquet.

The coat features hand-embroidered roses with couched gold cording, accented with French knots and satin-stitched blooms, demonstrating her commitment to supporting British craftsmanship and creativity.

Her earrings belonged to the late Queen and the princess opted for her go-to tiara the Lover’s Knot Tiara.

Kate was also wearing the Royal Family Order of King Charles III, Royal Family Order of Elizabeth II, Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and GCVO Star and Sash.

The Prince of Wales is wearing a white tie and a Windsor tail coat, and the Most Noble Order of the Garter Sash with the Lesser George.

He was also wearing his miniature medals – Order of the Bath and the Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee and Coronation medal – as well as Chest Orders of the Order of the Garter and Order of the Thistle and the Neck Order of the Order of the Bath.

The state banquet is due to get underway at Windsor Castle.

Some guests have started to trickle in, before the guests of honour arrive in the banquet halls.

Donald Trump will be sat next to the King, with the Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales also being at the table.

Other royals in attendance will be the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

Plenty of diplomats and politicians will be present including Sir Keir Starmer, the US secretary of state Marco Rubio, Treasury secretary Scott Bessent and special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Business leaders including Apple CEO Tim Cook are also invited.

After a day filled with royal welcomes and military pomp, the US president has arrived at tonight’s state banquet.

The glittering centrepiece of Donald Trump’s state visit, some 160 guests – including senior royals, politicians and business leaders – have arrived to enjoy an extravagant feast.

Donald and Melania Trump will be seated amongst the royal family at the 50-metre table which has taken staff says to set up.

Pictures of tonight’s menu, written in French, have been released by the palace.

For starters, a Hampshire watercress panna cotta with parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad will be served.

This will be followed by the main course, which is a organic Norfolk chicken ballottine wrapped in courgettes, with a thyme and savoury infused jus.

Spanish beans, spiced pumpkin with roasted seeds, buttered chard and fondant potatoes will be served as accompaniments.

For dessert, a bombe glacee cardinal, which is a vanilla ice cream bombe with Kentish raspberry sorbet interior with lightly poached victoria plums will be served

The wine list is as follows:

Wiston Estate, Cuvée, 2016

Domaine Bonneau du Martray, Corton-Charlemagne, Grand Cru, 2018

Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, 2000

Pol Roger, Extra Cuvée de Réserve

Windsor Castle’s staff will have started constructing the 50 metre mahogany table almost a week ago.

Tablecloths and napkins – folded in the shape of a Dutch bonnet – cruet sets, elaborate floral decorations, priceless plates, candelabra and six glasses – for water, a champagne toast, red and white wines, a dessert wine and port – will all have carefully been put in order.

Every place setting must be precisely 18 inches apart – with measuring sticks used to ensure absolute precision.

The footmen and women must make sure every chair is exactly the same distance from the table and each glass is the same distance from the front edge of the table.

Tonight’s banquet, the glittering centrepiece of Donald Trump’s state visit, is set to begin shortly.

Just before the banquet begins, members of the royal family will be lined up to be personally introduced to Mr Trump and First Lady Melania.

Then, the King and Queen and the American couple will be formally introduced to and shake hands with each and every guest as they file into the ballroom.

The King and the president will then make their way into the room side by side.