Trump receives regal greeting during UK state visit by the King
In a whirlwind of pageantry and controversy, US President Donald Trump arrived in the UK for his second state visit, marking a historic moment as he becomes the first American president to receive two such visits, following his previous one with Queen Elizabeth II in 2019.
The visit, shrouded in secrecy, has kept Trump away from the general public, who remain largely unpopular towards him according to polls. However, the British Royal Household and government officials have gone the extra mile to dazzle and flatter Trump, hoping to keep him onside during a host of international crises.
The ceremonial proceedings began with a grand procession, as the Trumps and the royals made their way through the Windsor estate towards the nearly 1,000-year-old castle. Trump inspected troops at a castle west of London, during a ceremonial guard of honor that UK officials called the largest for a state visit in living memory. As Trump shook hands with the king, a 41-gun salute was fired from six World War One-era guns on the castle's east lawn and at the Tower of London.
Trump was also treated to a unique experience, becoming the first US president to receive a joint flypast by US and UK fighter jets during his visit. The spectacle was a testament to the close relationship between the two nations.
However, the visit has not been without its share of domestic troubles for both British Labour leader Keir Starmer and President Trump. Starmer faces political turmoil at home after sacking his UK ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, over a furore involving Mandelson's connection to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The spectre of Epstein has also cast a shadow over Trump's visit, with his past association with the disgraced financier causing controversy.
In a surprising turn of events, four people were arrested for projecting images of Trump and Epstein onto Windsor Castle. The protests against Trump's visit are expected to attract thousands, with many voicing their opposition to the US president's policies and actions.
Despite the controversies, the visit saw warm welcomes from the British royals. Prince William and his wife Catherine warmly greeted Trump and First Lady Melania Trump upon their arrival. In a moment of camaraderie, Trump described Charles as 'my friend.'
On the second day of the visit, Starmer will host Trump at Chequers, his country residence. The Trumps will also lay a wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II, paying their respects to the late monarch.
As the visit comes to a close, the impact of these events on the relationship between the UK and US remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the visit has been a spectacle of grandeur, controversy, and diplomacy.
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