Charley Hull stunned guests at Windsor Castle on Wednesday by attending the state banquet with King Charles III and Queen Camilla and meeting U.S. President Donald Trump for the first time, a moment that highlighted a weekend of high achievement for the English golfer. Hull, who captured her first LPGA title of the 2025 season at the Kroger Queen City Championship on Sunday, joined the royal couple and other dignitaries in a night that doubled as a celebration of her career rebound. The event took place on Sept. 17, 2025, as Hull carried momentum from a dramatic finish that saw her prevail over World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul on the final holes of the Cincinnati-area event.
Hull posted on social media that the evening was unforgettable, sharing a carousel of photos from Windsor in which she wore a champagne-colored halter dress, jeweled heels and carried a Yves Saint Laurent bag. "Swapped the golf gear for something a little more fancy," she wrote in a Story accompanying the posts. In one caption she called the state banquet invitation an honor and said it was great to finally meet the U.S. president, describing the moment as "one for the memory books." The pageantry surrounding the banquet included the presence of Queen Camilla and King Charles III, alongside Trump and first lady Melania Trump, as the royals hosted foreign leaders and distinguished guests at Windsor Castle.
The Kroger Queen City Championship victory capped Hull’s weekend surge after a year in which she battled injuries and health scares that limited her competition schedule. Hull beat Thitikul, the World No. 1, with a gripping birdie on the last hole to secure her first LPGA title since 2022, a win she described as a turning point. "I guess it’s not over until the fat lady sings," Hull said after sealing the win, adding that she was shaking over the final putt because she had not expected to win. "But I was buzzing afterward. Like Jeeno played great today. She was very solid. Unfortunate what happened to her on the last hole. At the end of the day, I just felt like I needed a little bit of luck on my side in the last few years because I don’t feel like it’s ever gone my way, and it’s finally got my way for once. Every dog has its day." Hull’s win was celebrated with the trophy and a sense of renewed confidence heading into a season that has seen her weather a spate of setbacks as she climbs back to form.
The Windsor moment comes with Hull still riding the aftermath of a recent injury scare. She was back on her feet after tripping and falling in the Centurion Club parking lot during the PIF London Championship, an incident that left her in a medical boot for a period and required rehabilitation ahead of a busy schedule. The timing of the Windsor dinner followed Hull’s withdrawal from the Amundi Evian Championship in France after collapsing in the first round from a virus, an episode that required medical attention and an MRI exam. Hull later revealed she had been dealing with fatigue and health issues that briefly interrupted her campaign. In recounting the Evian setback, Hull’s team characterized it as a precautionary withdrawal given her health at the time, and she resumed training while keeping her focus on the season’s remaining events.
Beyond the golf course, Hull’s year has included lighthearted note and notable headlines. She has previously drawn attention for quitting smoking on the course, a habit she reportedly picked up during a bet earlier in the year. She also has a film credit that has circulated in entertainment circles, with reports noting her involvement in a follow-up project, though details have varied in coverage. Hull’s Windsor appearance, however, underscored a serious competitive thread: she has earned a place among the sport’s rising stars by turning a recent run of adversity into a banner moment. It also placed her in a unique spotlight, sharing a stage with global political leaders and members of royalty just days after securing the title that had eluded her for several seasons.
The state banquet setting provided Hull with a rare chance to mix sport with diplomacy and high society. The royal family’s guest list and the public photo opportunities underscored how sport can intersect with national and international profiles, extending Hull’s moment beyond the leaderboard. The mood around the event reflected a sense of renewal for Hull as she prepares for the remainder of the year’s schedule, with fans and commentators watching to see whether the momentum from Windsor translates into continued tournament success.
As Hull continues to balance competition with appearances that place her in broader cultural conversations, the Windsor evening stands as a high-profile milestone in a year of noticeable comeback. Her victory in Cincinnati and the Windsor banquet together mark a peak that could propel her into a renewed stretch of consistent performances, even as she remains mindful of the injuries and illnesses that temporarily interrupted her earlier in the season. The combination of professional achievement and high-profile exposure signals a new chapter for Hull as she navigates a sport that increasingly intersects with entertainment and public life.
