LONDON — King Charles III greeted President Donald Trump with great pomp and circumstance at Windsor Castle on Wednesday afternoon for the opening of his second state visit.
Trump, whose visit included a military flyover and lavish banquet, is the first foreign leader to receive a second state visit invitation from the Crown.
The president and first lady Melania Trump landed at London Stansted Airport late on Tuesday, spending the night at Winfield House, the U.S. ambassador’s residence in the United Kingdom. The pair departed for Windsor, via Marine One, around 11:45 a.m. local time and touched down at the royal castle just before 12:14 p.m., where they were greeted by Prince William and Princess Katherine of Wales.
Britain’s Kate, princess of Wales, from left, Prince William, President Donald Trump, and Britain’s King Charles III at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on Wednesday Sept. 17, 2025. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are welcomed by Britain’s King Charles III, in the Walled Garden on the Windsor Castle estate, in Windsor, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Ian Vogle/Pool Photo via AP)
Next, the Trumps were personally welcomed by Charles and Queen Camilla, and an accompanying 41-gun salute fired from the castle, before the president and the king loaded into a black carriage, trimmed in gold, and were transported into the Windsor quadrangle for a military ceremony featuring British “beefeater” soldiers sporting the iconic scarlet uniforms and tall, black bearskin hats.
The Irish State Coach carrying Britain’s King Charles III and President Donald Trump rides toward Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Henry Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP).Britain’s King Charles III, left, and President Donald Trump ride in the Irish State Coach during a horse-drawn procession toward Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Henry Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP).
As the carriage proceeded clockwise through the quadrangle, the military band played “The Star-Spangled Banner” followed by “God Save the King.”
Trump and Charles soon exited the carriage before joining the first lady and the queen on a raised dais. The president saluted as the band played “The Star-Spangled Banner” for a second time, before joining Charles for an inspection of the royal honor guard, with the president walking just a few feet in front of the king.
President Donald Trump salutes standing beside Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla with Melania Trump on the left as they listen to the national anthem at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)Britain’s King Charles III, left, and President Donald Trump review the guard of honor during the ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Jonathan Brady/Pool Photo via AP)President Donald Trump reviews the guard of honor after the arrival at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)King Charles III greeted President Donald Trump with great pomp and circumstance Wednesday afternoon at Windsor Castle for the opening of his second state visit.
Following the inspection, Trump and Charles returned to the dais to observe the departure of the military detachments. The last to leave were the bagpipe-playing Scots Guards, an apparent nod to the president’s mother, who was Scottish. Furthermore, according to the British press, Wednesday’s honor guard featured troops from three British regiments, compared to just two regiments at French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Windsor earlier this year.
Several U.S. officials were also in attendance at the ceremony, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, special envoy Steve Witkoff, press secretary Karoline Leavitt, deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, communications director Steven Cheung, special assistant Margo Martin, and staff secretary Will Scharf.
President Donald Trump and Britain’s King Charles III prepare to inspect the guard of honor during an arrival ceremony at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The Trumps proceeded to have a private lunch with the king and queen before taking a tour of the Royal private collection and visiting St. George’s Chapel, where the president, according to the White House, took part in a private wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II.
President Donald Trump speaks with Britain’s King Charles III as they view a special display of items from the Royal Collection relating to the United States of America, in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)Chapter Clerk, Charlotte Manley, right, speaks to President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump during their visit to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)
Late Wednesday afternoon, Trump, the first lady, Charles, and Camila headed to the Windsor Castle Garden to view the Beating Retreat ceremony, including a performance by the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps dressed in Revolutionary War-era uniforms, as well as a flyover by the Royal Air Force’s display team, the Red Arrows, complete with red, white, and blue contrails.
According to British government officials, Wednesday was the first time the Beating Retreat had been performed at a state visit.
From left, Queen Camilla and King Charles III stand with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump during a Beating Retreat ceremony at Windsor Castle, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Jonathan Brady/Pool Photo via AP)President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Britain’s King Charles III, and Britain’s Queen Camilla attend a Beating Retreat musical performance on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)Musicians play during a Beating Retreat musical performance on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Britain’s King Charles III, and Britain’s Queen Camilla attend a Beating Retreat musical performance on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)A flypast by the RAF Red Arrows during a Beating Retreat military ceremony at Windsor Castle, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, day one of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second state visit to the U.K. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)The Red Arrows fly in formation over Windsor Castle during the state visit of President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump in Windsor, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)The Red Arrows fly in formation over Windsor Castle during the state visit of President Donald Trump in Windsor, England, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
“Beating Retreat is a military spectacle and ceremony which originated in the early years of organised warfare and symbolizes the end of the day when camp gates were closed and ceremonial flags were lowered,” a Ministry of Defense official stated. “The ceremony takes place on Horse Guards Parade every year in June, when the salute is taken by a member of the Royal Family.”
You can watch this morning’s ceremony in full below:
