Trump shares carriage procession with King Charles
Here are some pictures from the carriage procession.
Key events
On behalf of the White House pool, Danny Kemp from AFP has filed more on the exhibits from the royal collection that were put on display for Trump.
A helpful royal official explained the tables to us. The first table is about early encounters with colonists, and 18th century watercolors; the second – which apparently POTUS is particularly interested in, with US due to mark its 250 anniversary next year – relates to US independence and George III; the third is about the first transatlantic cable and has messages between Queen Victoria and President Buchanan, and from President Lincoln to Queen Victoria after the death of Prince Albert; the fourth is about a hot dog picnic in the 1930s that young Queen Elizabeth wrote about; and the fifth was about President Eisenhower and a large glass vessel that he gave Queen Elizabeth during the 1957 state visit, plus a photo of President Reagan and the Queen during his state visit.
Kemp says Trump could also be heard talking about John Adams, the second US president, at one point.
Just six members of the royal family joined the US president for lunch in the state dining room – King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, PA Media reports. PA says:
They were also joined by Trump’s entourage and James Roscoe, who is the new interim ambassador to the US in place of Lord Mandelson, and the king’s key aides.
The Duchess of Edinburgh has left for an overseas tour and the Duke of Edinburgh is also away on a foreign trip.
The Princess Royal was not at the lunch.
Police say van with Trump/Epstein picture stopped in Windsor as part of security check, but not seized
Thames Valley police say that the van that was displaying the picture of Donald Trump with Jeffrey Epstein (see 2.19pm) was stopped in Windsor as part of a routine security check. In a statement, the force said:
Security checks are a necessary part of our response to ensure the safety of the state visit and all those in the area.
The driver was at risk of breaching the Road Traffic Regulations Act, and after a brief conversation with officers the motorist left the area.
No arrests were made and no vehicles were seized.
We have been clear with the public that an enhanced police presence would be in place due to the state visit.
Trump and King Charles exchange gifts
Donald Trump and the first lady will give King Charles a replica of a President Eisenhower Sword as a symbol of “historical partnership” in a gift exchange as the US president is welcomed to Windsor on his state visit, PA Media reports.
Charles and the queen also have presents for their American guests, according to Buckingham Palace.
Trump and his wife touched down in the presidential helicopter just after noon on Wednesday and were first greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales and then Charles and Camilla in front of Victoria House, a property in the Royal Kitchen Gardens at Frogmore on the private Windsor estate.
King Charles and the queen will gift Mr Trump a bespoke, hand-bound leather book specially crafted by the Royal Bindery in Windsor Castle to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted in Philadelphia on July 4 1776, as well as the union flag that was hoisted above Buckingham Palace on the day of the president’s inauguration earlier this year.
To Mrs Trump, Charles and Camilla will gift a silver and enamel bowl featuring the queen’s cypher crafted by Northern Irish artist Cara Murphy, a renowned silversmith who has created works for Downing Street and the Grand National.
The first lady will also receive a personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag.
The royals will give the American couple a silver photograph frame engraved with their joint cyphers.
The president and his wife will return the gestures with gifts of their own.
King Charles is set to receive a replica of a President Eisenhower Sword which, according to Buckingham Palace, symbolises “profound respect” and acts as a “reminder of the historical partnership that was critical” to winning the second world war.
“The sword also symbolises the enduring values and co-operative spirit that continues to define the relationship between the United States and Great Britain,” the palace added.
Meanwhile the queen will be gifted a Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch.
The brooch, said to represent diplomacy, friendship, and respect, features Camilla’s birthstone – rubies – and that of Mrs Trump’s – diamonds.
King Charles has received several gifts from world leaders over the years.
A sword sounds nice, but what the UK really wants is 21st century military firepower to help secure Ukraine, and the rest of Europe, against Russia. On this, the Americans havwe not been quite forthcoming as the Europeans would like.
And perhaps Trump will be disappointed with his pressie too. After all, the Qataris gave him a $400m jet.
Danny Kemp from AFP has filed another White House pool report from the room at Windsor Castle housing a royal collection display.
It’s a very good ornate room with green walls and gold trim, with glass-fronted cabinets filled with royal-looking crockery.
POTUS, FLOTUS, King Charles and Queen Camilla entered the room from a side door and inspected artefacts laid out on five tables about US-British relations. They walked along slowly looking at the displays.
“Wow,” said POTUS as he looked at documents about US independence.
“That’s fascinating” said Charles as he pointed out another table about a transatlantic cable.
“That’s so amazing,” added Trump.
“Are you enjoying it, are you having a good time?” Trump said to pool before leaving.
POTUS, of course, is the president of the US, and FLOTUS is Mrs POTUS (FL, first lady).
Photograph: Eddie Mulholland/Daily Telegraph/PA
Led By Donkeys attacks ‘Orwellian’ arrests after Trump Windsor projections
Led by Donkeys, the campaign group that projected pictures of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein onto the walls of Windsor Castle last night, has condemned the arrest of four men in relation to the stunt as “Orwellian” and “ridiculous”. Alexandra Topping has the story.
Led by Donkeys started life as a anti-Brexit campaign group. It specialised in fact-based campaigning (often highlighting the inconsistency between what politicians previously said, and what they were doing now), and in staging imaginative, often funny, stunts. Before the general election they mainly campaigned against the Conservatives and Reform UK, but now they branch out more widely. Their name comes from the saying, widely associated with soldiers in the first world war, about them being “lions led by donkeys”.
In London the anti-Trump protest is under way. People are marching from Portland Place to Parliament Square.
Van showing picture of Trump with Epstein stopped by police in Windsor
Maybe Donald Trump is right about freedom of speech being under threat in the UK after all. The advertising van that was driving in Windsor showing an image of Donald Trump with Jeffrey Epstein (see 9.49am) has been stopped by police, Reuters is reporting.
A van displaying a photo of US President Trump alongside late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was stopped by police on approach to Windsor Castle, where Trump is set to be hosted by King Charles during his state visit to Britain pic.twitter.com/Sx1UHSGYpM
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 17, 2025
In a post on Instagram, the campaign group Eveyone Hates Elon says it was their van and the police confiscated it. They claim that two journalists covering the story were also detained.
Thames Valley police have been asked to comment.
James Roscoe, the UK’s chargé d’affaires in Washington, was seen at Windsor taking a picture of the spectacle during Donald Trump’s visit, PA media reports.
Roscoe is the acting interim ambassador at the embassy in Washington following Lord Mandelson’s sacking.
A veteran public servant, Roscoe has held a string of senior roles both within government and the royal household.
