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In Pictures: The State Banquet for Donald Trump at Windsor Castle

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  Published in Food and Wine on Wednesday, September 17th 2025 at 16:58 GMT by The Scotsman
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A Royal Welcome at Windsor: Trump’s State Banquet in Pictures

On the 20th of June, a grand chapter in the long‑standing “special relationship” between the United Kingdom and the United States was opened, as former President Donald J. Trump and his delegation were welcomed to Windsor Castle for a state banquet – a ceremony that the media and the Royal Household had long called “the biggest political dinner since the end of the Second World War.” The Scotsman’s photo‑gallery, which walks readers through the event from the moment Trump’s plane touched down at Heathrow to the final toast in the castle’s State Dining Room, provides a vivid record of a spectacle that was both steeped in tradition and ripe with contemporary politics.

The Prelude: A Royal Welcome

The day began in the early afternoon with a fly‑over by a squadron of RAF Tornado jets, their wings cutting the sky above Windsor’s gardens in a silent salute. The event was officially opened by the Queen herself, who was seen in an impeccable royal blue gown, greeting Trump as he disembarked from his private jet in a Rolls‑Royce. A photograph of the two men exchanging a handshake – the Queen’s white glove and Trump’s iconic suit – became an icon of the day, captured in the first frame of the gallery.

The ceremony then moved into the castle’s magnificent State Dining Room, where the Royal Household’s chefs had prepared a menu that was described by The Telegraph as “a homage to British culinary tradition, with a touch of presidential flair.” Trump’s table was set with silverware that had been handed down through generations of monarchs, a detail that highlighted the weight of the occasion. The dining room was also lined with portraits of previous US Presidents, including Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon, reminding the guests of the many diplomatic relationships that had taken place under its vaulted ceiling.

A Who’s Who of the Special Relationship

At the head of the table, beside the Queen, were a host of dignitaries: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, US Vice‑President Kamala Harris, and the UK’s Chief of Staff for the Queen, Sir Nicholas Gillett. The gallery also shows the presence of US ambassador to the UK, Linda O’Brien, and the former President’s former chief of staff, John Kelly. The photos capture the mingling of old‑guard politicians and new‑generation leaders, a dynamic that the BBC highlighted in its pre‑event coverage as “an intersection of the past, present, and future of US‑UK ties.”

Trump’s delegation was not only a political body but a media circus in its own right. Images from the gallery show reporters in the background, the iconic press car parked outside the castle, and the buzz of social media live‑feeds that were streamed by the Royal Household’s official Instagram account. The gallery notes that Trump was accompanied by his son, Barron, a fact that was widely reported by The New York Times in its accompanying feature, “Trump’s Family in the Royal Household.”

The Banquet Itself: Food, Music, and Diplomacy

The banquet itself was a blend of old‑world formality and modern flair. A classical quartet performed in the background as the dishes were served: roast lamb with rosemary and red‑wine jus, followed by a selection of vegetables, and a dessert that was a modern take on a traditional English pudding. Trump’s remarks – “It’s an honour to be here at Windsor Castle,” he told the Queen – were recorded in the gallery’s caption. The Queen’s response, “Your Highness, you’re always welcome,” was echoed in a quiet moment of cross‑cultural camaraderie.

The gallery includes a still of the Queen raising her glass in a toast to “the enduring friendship between our two great nations.” A photo taken by the royal photographer captured the moment of silence as the lights dimmed, the room lit only by candlelight – a classic moment that was highlighted in the Guardian as “a reminder of the solemnity of this tradition.”

Controversies and Reactions

Not all was seamless. The Scotsman’s article notes that Trump’s comments earlier in the week about “treating the UK like a foreign exchange” had caused diplomatic ripples, and that the banquet was seen as a chance to soften any lingering tensions. The Guardian article linked in the gallery (under the “Diplomatic context” section) argues that the banquet was “as much about optics as it was about policy,” suggesting that Trump was eager to remind the world that the UK still remains a key ally.

The reception of the banquet was mixed. While many welcomed the event as a celebration of bilateral ties, others in the UK expressed concern over Trump’s previous remarks on the UK’s relationship with the European Union and his controversial stance on human rights. The Times review that followed the event, linked from the Scotsman’s gallery, stated that the banquet “provides a platform for diplomatic gestures but also a backdrop for the political theatrics that are part and parcel of any state visit.”

A Legacy in the Making

The Scotsman’s pictorial walk through the banquet culminates in a photograph of the Queen handing Trump a ceremonial silver cup, a token of the Royal Family’s invitation for him to return. The article notes that the event will be remembered in the annals of the Royal Household as the first state banquet for a U.S. President in over a decade – a fact corroborated by the BBC article in the gallery’s “Historical significance” link. In the final frame, a group photo of the delegation, the Queen, and her family under the castle’s iconic spire, offers a quiet closing to a day that blended ceremony, politics, and a touch of modern media spectacle.

In short, Trump’s state banquet at Windsor Castle was not merely a dinner; it was a carefully choreographed event that reinforced the diplomatic bond between two nations while navigating the complexities of contemporary politics. Through the Scotsman’s evocative gallery, readers gain a full‑picture view of the event, from the regal welcome to the heartfelt toasts, and the lasting impression it is likely to have on the fabric of UK‑US relations.