Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of Donald Trump’s visit to Windsor Castle, where King Charles will host a state banquet in the US president’s honour this evening. I’m David Crowe, the Europe Correspondent, filing from London on the ceremonial and the strategic aspects of this state visit.
Trump and his wife, Melania, arrived at Windsor Castle at about noon on Wednesday, local time, and were met by the Prince and Princess of Wales before the formal greeting from King Charles and Queen Camilla. We’re starting this coverage at about 5pm in London – or 2am on Thursday, AEST – just as we head towards the state banquet.
The weather is windy and cloudy, and it has already forced a change to the program: a fly-past by F-35 jet fighters from both the US and the UK has been cancelled. However, this has not stopped the fly-past by the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force acrobatic aircraft team.
The high ceremony has a deep impact on Trump – there is no doubt about that. His mother was born in Scotland and adored the royal family, and he appears to have inherited some of that emotional attachment. Upon his arrival, he told reporters he loved Britain. “It’s a very special place,” he said.
We are about to find out how special this visit may be. There is a lot to come.
