Trump UK visit live: King and Queen meet President at Windsor while thousands plan protest – UK Times

The royal carriage procession has arrived for the full ceremonial welcome in the Windsor Castle quadrangle with the largest ever guard of honour for such an occasion.

The state colours of the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards are assembled to greet the party of the King and Donald Trump – the first time that three state colours, rather than just one, will be on parade at such an occasion.

The carriage procession carrying the King and US president travelled through the George IV gate and swept into Windsor Castle’s quadrangle.

Waiting in the centre of the grass-covered square was the unprecedented guard of honour, believed to be the largest assembled in living memory.

It was drawn from three of the British Army’s most prestigious regiments – Coldstream, Scots and Grenadier Guards – each with their own captain and state colour.

Behind them were the Massed Bands of The Household Division and the Massed Pipes and Drums who played the American national anthem followed by the British as the carriages approached the royal dais.

The King and the US president could be seen engaged in conversation as the carriage procession set off.

The Queen and the First Lady were in the following carriage, and could also be seen deep in discussion.

The Prince and Princess of Wales followed in the coach behind, and as the carriages proceeded along the route, the American and British national anthems were played.

The Trumps joined the King and Queen and William and Kate for a carriage procession through the Windsor estate towards the castle.

Eighty soldiers from the House Cavalry Mounted Regiment formed the Sovereign’s Escort travelling with the carriages, with the Life Guards dressed in their red tunics and white plumed helmets and Blues and Royals in their blue tunics and red plumes.

The processional route, which was not open to the public, was lined by 22 half-companies of personnel from throughout the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force.

Making their way to the castle, the Trumps are expected to pass not far from Frogmore House, where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had their evening wedding reception, and also close to Frogmore Cottage, briefly home to Harry and Meghan before they quit the working monarchy and moved to America.

The King and Queen have just formally welcomed the US president and the first lady to Windsor.

As Charles and Donald Trump met, a 41-round gun salute was fired from six First World War era guns simultaneously by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle, while the Honourable Artillery Company stages a salute more than 20 miles away at the Tower of London.

The scale and spectacle of the military ceremonial on show for Mr Trump is unprecedented and marks the largest military ceremonial welcome for a state visit to the UK in living memory.

The Prince and Princess of Wales can be seen greeting Donald and Melania Trump as they disembarked his Marine One helicopter.

The US president emerged from his helicopter with his wife Melania at 12.16pm.

The arrival was celebrated with music from The Band of the Household Cavalry who were wearing state dress – a uniform designed in the 17th century and made from pure gold thread.

William and Kate greeted the pair after arriving at the Walled Garden, in the Royal Kitchen Gardens at Frogmore on Windsor’s private Home Park estate.

White House staff have been seen disembarking from a helicopter ahead of the arrival of US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Windsor Castle in Windsor, Berkshire, on day one of their second state visit to the UK.

The King and Queen have just arrived in preparation for formally welcoming the Trumps in Windsor in a few minutes.

Charles and Camilla arrived in the state Bentley at 12.02pm before heading inside Victoria House.

The timings are slightly behind schedule with the US president and first lady yet to arrive at the planned time of 11.55am.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski said he would be “standing up to the bully Donald Trump and his poodle, Nigel Farage” before joining protesters in London later on Wednesday.

The Green firebrand, who is in the line-up for a rally on Parliament Square organised by the Stop Trump Coalition, said: “Donald Trump comes to Britain seeking credibility and to whitewash his own complicity in the genocide unfolding in Gaza.

“While the vast majority unite against Trump and everything he stands for, there will be one man who wants us to welcome him with open arms: Nigel Farage.

“Farage pretends to be a man of the people, but he’s really just a man of the super rich. Like Trump he seeks power, influence and money over all else.

“Our country has a proud tradition of standing up for the underdog. Today, that means standing alongside every child in Gaza; with all those in detention camps on the borders of the United States and with each and every one of those growing up in poverty here in Britain. And standing up to the bully Donald Trump and his poodle, Nigel Farage.”