Before sitting down to dinner, Donald Trump and King Charles walked past the guard of honor in the courtyard of Windsor Castle. The atmosphere was quite relaxed: they chatted animatedly, and at one point, Charles even placed his hand on Trump’s back. Both paused to exchange a few words with an officer in full dress uniform, sword at his hip.
Trump and King Charles exchanged gifts
Later, details of the gift exchange were revealed. According to Buckingham Palace, to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, King Charles and Queen Camilla presented Donald Trump with a hand-bound leather volume crafted at Windsor Castle, along with the Union Jack that had flown above the palace on the day of his January inauguration.
Melania was given a silver and enamel bowl created by a Northern Irish silversmith, as well as a custom handbag from Anya Hindmarch. The royal couple also added a silver photo frame engraved with their joint monogram.
In return, Trump presented Karl with a replica of President Eisenhower’s sword, a symbol of the US-British alliance in World War II. Camilla received a vintage Tiffany flower brooch, adorned with rubies and diamonds—stones that matched the zodiac signs of both First Ladies.
What was Trump’s visit to Britain like?
Meanwhile, both supporters and opponents of the visit gathered outside the castle. One Trump fan, wearing a MAGA cap and a sweatshirt with his portrait, called him a “man of the people” and a “fighter for sovereignty.” But in London, columns of protesters were already forming: the “Stop Trump” movement announced a march through the city center and a rally outside Parliament.
Interestingly, Ronald Reagan, when he visited London and Windsor Castle several decades ago, faced protests for his overly harsh rhetoric.
Trump, however, faced protests precisely for his overly “friendly” stance toward Putin. It didn’t help that the US president changed his rhetoric toward Russia on the eve of his visit to Britain.
British authorities took the visit very seriously. Police increased security, closed the skies over Windsor and the Prime Minister’s residence, and security forces declared they were prepared for “any development.”
For London, Trump’s current visit is both political and diplomatic. The royal family plays a role in soft power: it is through them that the British government hopes to win over the president and strengthen defense and trade ties with the United States.
