Windsor, UK, Sep 17 (EFE).- King Charles III received Donald Trump at Windsor Castle on Wednesday with Britain’s largest military welcome for a state visit in living memory, underscoring the pomp of the US president’s second official trip to the United Kingdom.
The monarch and the Republican leader arrived at the castle courtyard in a closed carriage pulled by six white horses from Victoria House, an imposing residence on the estate grounds.
Amid the ceremony, complete with the playing of both national anthems, Charles and Trump reviewed the Royal Guard, while Queen Camilla and First Lady Melania Trump watched from a tent in the courtyard.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, also looked on.
The scale of the welcome, said to be the grandents in UK’s history, was striking.
About 1,300 members of the British armed forces participated, alongside 120 horses, 160 Royal Navy personnel, and 140 from the Royal Air Force.
To mark the occasion, the King’s Horse Artillery fired 41 rounds from six World War I-era cannons in the castle gardens as Trump greeted the monarchs.
From Victoria House, the Trumps, the King and Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales rode in horse-drawn carriages escorted by the Household Cavalry.
Charles and Trump traveled in the Irish State Coach, Camilla and Melania in the Scottish State Coach, and William and Catherine followed in an Ascot Landau alongside US Ambassador Warren Stephens.
The procession, closed to the public for security reasons, passed near Frogmore House, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle held their wedding reception, and Frogmore Cottage, their former residence before leaving royal duties in 2020.
This is Trump’s second state visit to the United Kingdom, following his 2019 trip during his first term in office.
The visit is not without controversy as the tour stirred opposition. Demonstrations against the US president are planned for later in the day in London.
Thames Valley Police confirmed four arrests linked to the projection of images of Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein onto a Windsor Castle tower by the activist group Led By Donkeys, which later shared the stunt on Instagram with the caption. “Hello Donald, welcome to Windsor Castle.” EFE
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