WINDSOR, England—As President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump continue their two-day state visit to the United Kingdom, King Charles III hosted them on Wednesday evening with a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle, an event that had been months in the making.
The white-tie dinner, attended by 160 guests, began with speeches from both the king and the president. Guests were seated at a single giant table stretching 47.3 meters (155 feet) and decorated with candelabras and seasonal flowers.
“This is truly one of the highest honors of my life,” Trump said at the start of his speech.
He noted that this was his second state visit to the UK, the first having taken place in 2019 during his first term, when he was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. He became the first U.S. president to be invited for two state visits by a British monarch.
Trump joked that he hoped to remain the only president to have two state visits, drawing laughter from the crowd.
“The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal. It’s irreplaceable and unbreakable,” Trump said during his speech.
He also expressed his admiration for Winston Churchill, noting that he keeps a bust of Churchill in the Oval Office.
King Charles, addressing the guests before Trump, highlighted the U.S. leader’s “personal commitment” to resolving some of the world’s biggest conflicts. The king has long supported Ukraine and mentioned it during the banquet.
“Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine to deter aggression and secure peace,” he said.
He also highlighted the historic bond between the two nations and their shared commitment to global peace and the environment.
Royal officials, including those who spoke with The Epoch Times, gave the media a preview of the dinner table and the event.
In total, the banquet setting included 139 candles, 1,452 pieces of cutlery, and support from more than 100 staff members. The table alone took a week to put together.
The seating plan was finalized by the royal household with help from the UK government and the White House. On one side of the table, the order included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, King Charles, Trump, Princess Catherine, Trump’s daughter Tiffany Trump, and Apple’s CEO Tim Cook. On the opposite side sat Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Queen Camilla, Melania Trump, and Prince William.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was seen seated next to Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman and Marco Rubio’s wife, Jeanette Rubio. Other high-profile guests included Rupert Murdoch, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and former Masters champion Nick Faldo.
The evening’s menu highlighted seasonal cuisine. Guests began with Hampshire watercress panna cotta with Parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, followed by organic Norfolk chicken ballotine wrapped in courgettes with a thyme and savory-infused jus. Dessert was a vanilla ice cream bombe with a Kentish raspberry sorbet center, served alongside lightly poached Victoria plums. A royal official told The Epoch Times that the king personally approved the menu, which had been in the works since early summer.
The dishes were paired with English, Californian, and French wines. Since Trump does not drink alcohol, his team would tell royal officials his preferred soft drinks.
Security around the visit has been heightened in recent days following the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at a university in Utah. A source familiar with the arrangements told The Epoch Times that security preparations for the president’s trip began weeks before his arrival.
The president traveled with a fleet of helicopters, including Marine One, which flew him directly into Windsor Castle’s grounds on Wednesday morning. Thames Valley Police announced that airspace restrictions—including a ban on drones—would be strictly enforced over Windsor during the state visit, with support from the National Police Air Service, according to the BBC.
A royal home and fortress for over 900 years, Windsor Castle is considered the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world.
