The Queen greeted the President of the United States Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, at Windsor Castle on Friday afternoon. Her Majesty, who has welcomed several Presidents to Windsor Castle over the years including Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, met Donald and Melania at the dais in the Quadrangle of the Castle, where a Guard of Honour formed of the Coldstream Guards gave a royal salute, and the US National Anthem was played.
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The group then inspected the Guard of Honour and watched the military march past before heading inside for tea at the castle. The President's visit to the UK has had a mixed reaction from the public, with thousands taking to the streets in London in protest of his visit. Previously speaking about his trip, Donald said: "I have NATO, I have the UK – that's a situation with turmoil, and I have Putin. Frankly, Putin may be the easiest of them all, who would think? Who would think? But the UK certainly – they certainly have a lot of things going on."
The Queen arrived several minutes ahead of greeting the President at Windsor Castle while dressed in an all-blue ensemble on the second day of Donald's visit. The monarch has previously welcomed several US presidents into her home in Windsor, including Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan.
There was one awkward moment during the meeting when the President seemed unsure of where to stand, leading the Queen to gesture that he should walk of her left hand side after a few seconds of confusion. After inspecting the first row of Guards, Donald was heard saying "thank you" to one of the guardsman.
Donald smiled as he inspected the Guard of Honour with the Queen before watching the military march past and joining the monarch for tea at the castle. Donald's encounter with the Queen is not a state visit, and there will be no carriage procession and no opulent state banquet. Buckingham Palace has also confirmed that no other members of the royal family will meet the US President.
The Queen smiled politely at her guests, Donald and Melania, and shook the President's hand in the ground of Windsor Castle. The trio watched as a Guard of Honour formed of the Coldstream Guards gave a royal salute. The 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards is one of the British Army's longest serving units, and have a ceremonial role as the Queen's Guard.
The group posed for a photo in Windsor Castle. Ahead of meeting Her Majesty, Donald spoke of his admiration for her, telling The Sun newspaper: "If you think of it, for so many years she has represented her country, she has really never made a mistake. "You don't see, like, anything embarrassing. She is just an incredible woman. "My wife is a tremendous fan of hers. She has got a great and beautiful grace about her."
Melania followed royal protocol to the letter by walking behind the two heads of state, instead speaking to Lt Col Sir Andrew Ford, Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain’s Office. The Queen introduced the couple to her lady-in-waiting, the US-born Countess of Airlie, and private secretary Edward Young, before enjoying a private tea.
The Queen has welcomed 13 American presidents during her 66-year reign, from Harry S. Truman to Obama, all except one, Lyndon B. Johnson. The monarch previously hosted George W. Bush at Windsor back in 2008, where he enjoyed an afternoon tea with the Queen in the White Drawing Room, while Donald and Melania will join her in the castle's Oak Room.