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LONDON — President Donald Trump was granted a royal welcome like no other on Wednesday, greeted by King Charles III and senior royals at Windsor Castle for his unprecedented second state visit.
The U.K.’s largest military ceremony for a visiting foreign leader in living memory saw 1,300 military personnel, 120 horses, and the full weight of Britain’s ceremonial traditions brought out to welcome the American president.
Outside the castle walls, protesters gathered in London to make clear their opposition to Trump’s arrival. But inside there was nothing but pomp and pageantry as the ancient fortress transformed into a stage for royal ceremony.
While big business and political issues were being discussed and negotiated during his trip, including a multi-billion dollar technology deal and the war in Ukraine, royal spectacle dominated the day.
The president and first lady Melania Trump arrived aboard Marine One, which in a rare move landed inside the Walled Garden of Windsor Castle — the world’s oldest and largest occupied castle.
They were greeted by Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, before Trump joined King Charles III for a carriage procession through the royal estate, though not before the President and the King shared a handshake marked by a 41-round gun salute from six World War I-era guns and the sound of the two nations’ national anthems.
The pair traveled in the Irish State Coach, followed by Queen Camilla and Melania in the Scottish State Coach, while William and Catherine rode behind with U.S. Ambassador Warren Stephens and his wife Harriet.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff were among those bringing up the rear.
The processional route, closed to the public, was lined with soldiers drawn from across the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force.
Eighty soldiers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment rode alongside the carriages as part of the Sovereign’s escort. The Life Guards, in red tunics and white plumed helmets, and the Blues and Royals, in blue tunics with red plumes, flanked the route in traditional formation.
As the carriages rolled through the estate toward Windsor Castle, the sound of hooves echoed against the walls of Windsor, which was founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and home to 40 monarchs since.
Inside the castle grounds, the mood was more hushed, steeped in ceremony.
Trump and the King walked between the neat lines of soldiers wearing their traditional red jackets and tall bearskin jackets, before attending lunch inside Windsor Castle’s State Dining Room. The menu has not been revealed.
After lunch, King Charles and Queen Camilla took the president and first lady to view a special display of artifacts connected to the U.S. from the Royal Collection.
Trump then paid a visit to the crypt of St. George’s Chapel, where the late Queen Elizabeth II is buried, to lay a wreath.
He also toured the chapel itself, built in 1475 under Edward IV and completed under Henry VIII, a site of worship for the royal family and resting place of monarchs including George VI, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.
For the first time for a visiting world leader, a group of 200 musicians performed “Beating Retreat,” a musical military ceremony that dates back to the 17th century.
The pageant, viewed by U.K and U.S. military personnel and their families, ended with a flyover of of Windsor Castle’s East Lawn by nine Hawk T1 jets of the Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team, better known as the Red Arrows. As they passed by they let out plumes of red, white and blue smoke.
Four U.S. F-35 jets had also been due to take part, but their participation was cancelled due to poor weather conditions.
After flyover the royal party went inside the castle for tea.
Outside Windsor’s walls, the picture was not so welcoming.
Almost 25 miles away in central London, thousands of demonstrators marched to protest Trump’s visit.
More than 1,500 police officers deployed as protesters made their way through the capital toward Parliament.
Officials said around 50 groups were expected to be represented at Wednesday’s demonstration, which is being led by the Stop Trump Coalition. Among them is the Fall Out Marching Band, a musical protest group that has rallied at marches in the U.K. and around the world since 1981.
“We’re here today to say we don’t want Trump here. He is a horrible man,” said Will Embliss, a longtime member and trumpet player. “We don’t want his politics in our country.”
Many demonstrators carried signs reading “stop Trump,” “stop fascism,” and “stop the genocide,” in reference to Israel’s war in Gaza. Many waved Palestinian flags.
Holding a sign emblazoned with the words, “I am a proud American. I am not proud of Trump,” Nancy Janin, 73, said she felt it was important to demonstrate against the state visit.
“I’m very concerned about the future of my country that I love very much,” Janin, who was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, and now lives in London, said. “I feel like this administration, Trump, is destroying it.”
Janin, who used to work in finance, said she was here to advocate for an “America that is for many people.”
Shaista Aziz, a co-organizer of the Stop Trump Coalition, which is leading the march, joined by dozens of other protest groups, told NBC News thousands of people had signed up to join the demonstration, some of whom were taking time off work to attend.
“Trump is not welcome in the U.K., and Trumpism is not welcome either, and our message to our own Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is stand up to Trump,” said Aziz.
A recent poll found that 70% of Britons disliked Trump, while 44% thought visit should be canceled.
“We strongly object to the politics of bigotry and hate, of genocide, and we demand that Keir Starmer stands up for us as a British people against this type of hatred,” Aziz added.
Police arrested four people after photos of Trump and late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected onto Windsor Castle Tuesday night.
Despite their arrest, one image returned Wednesday as a truck traveled through the town of Windsor displayed a photo with Trump and Epstein and a caption reading “Welcome to the UK, Donald.”
Freddie Clayton is a freelance journalist based in London.
Chantal Da Silva reports on world news for NBC News Digital and is based in London.
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