US President Donald Trump is currently on his second state visit to the United Kingdom, taking place from September 16 to 18. On Wednesday, as part of the official itinerary, President Trump met with members
of the British royal family and attended a formal state banquet hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle.
The banquet is being held in the grand St. George’s Hall, where both King Charles, 76, and President Trump, 79, delivered opening remarks. The monarch spoke warmly of the enduring ties between the two nations, calling the US–UK bond a “special” relationship. With a nod to history, he added, “I cannot help but wonder what our forebears from 1776 would make of this friendship today.”
The King also acknowledged Trump’s ancestral ties to Britain, joking, “I understand that British soil makes for rather splendid golf courses!”
In his response, President Trump expressed gratitude for the royal welcome, calling it “truly one of the highest honours of my life.” He praised King Charles for his longstanding philanthropic efforts, and offered a light-hearted anecdote, “I just stood in line and shook about 150 hands, and the King knew every single person… or at least I think he did because no one was complaining,” prompting laughter from the monarch.
Trump also commended the royal family, remarking that King Charles “raised a remarkable son” in Prince William and describing Princess Kate as “so radiant and so healthy, so beautiful.”
Following the formal dinner, guests will be served Warre’s 1945 Vintage Port, a symbolic nod to Trump as both the 45th and the 47th President of the United States, and Hennessy 1912 Cognac Grande Champagne, a tribute to the birth year of Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod.
Who Was at the Banquet?
The guest list for the Windsor Castle dinner featured a mix of political figures and high-profile business leaders.
Apple CEO Tim Cook was seated next to Tiffany Trump, while media mogul Rupert Murdoch dined beside Morgan McSweeney, a key adviser to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The US Ambassador, Warren Stephens, was positioned between Princess Anne and UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Prime Minister Starmer was seated next to Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of the investment giant Blackstone. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also attended, representing the tech world.
From the US political delegation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff were present. On the UK side, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy attended the banquet. Notable sports personalities included golfer Sir Nick Faldo and Olympic champion Dame Katherine Grainger.
