The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, joined Prince William on Wednesday to welcome US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to Windsor Castle at the start of the American president’s two-day state visit to the United Kingdom.
Kate and William greeted the Trumps in the Walled Garden after the presidential helicopter touched down on the Windsor estate, then walked with them to Victoria House to meet King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The Princess of Wales wore a red Emilia Wickstead dress with a Jane Taylor hat and a feather pendant that previously belonged to Princess Diana. The pendant is described in royal jewellery records as containing 18 round-cut diamonds with small emeralds surrounding the Prince of Wales feathers emblem.
A carriage procession followed, with the royal party and the Trumps travelling through the Berkshire estate toward the castle. More than 150 members of the armed forces lined the closed procession route, which included personnel from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force. The carriages were scheduled to pass through George IV Gate for a full ceremonial welcome in the quadrangle, where a Guard of Honour awaited the party and the UK and US national anthems were to be performed.
King Charles greeted the president as The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired a 41-round salute from the East Lawn. The State Colours of the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards were on parade together — the first time three State Colours have appeared together at such an occasion, organisers said.
The palace said the president and first lady will remain at Windsor Castle as guests of the king and queen for the duration of the visit. After the welcome, the royals and the Trumps were scheduled to join one another in the State Dining Room, view a special display of items from the Royal Collection relating to the United States in the Green Drawing Room, and visit St George’s Chapel, where Mr. and Mrs. Trump were to lay a wreath at the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Trumps are due to attend a State Banquet with speeches on Thursday evening. Earlier this week a White House source said, "The President and First Lady are thrilled that the Princess of Wales will play such a prominent role in their visit." The president and first lady previously met the Prince of Wales during a 40-minute meeting in Paris in December.
Queen Camilla attended the arrival in a sapphire-blue dress and matching coat by Fiona Clare and a Philip Treacy hat, wearing a sapphire-and-diamond brooch. The queen had missed a family funeral the previous day after being treated for acute sinusitis, Buckingham Palace said; the Prince and Princess of Wales had attended the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on Tuesday.
The Princess of Wales’s public role in the visit comes as she continues a gradual return to duties. Kensington Palace has said she is in remission from an undisclosed form of cancer following treatment. Royal aides said arrangements involving the princess for this state visit were confirmed nearer the date because of her health situation.
The next day’s programme includes a bilateral meeting at Chequers between Mr. Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, preceded by a personal viewing of Sir Winston Churchill archives at the country residence. Melania Trump is scheduled to remain at Windsor for separate engagements, including a visit to Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and the Royal Library, before joining the princess at a Scouts event and later travelling to Chequers.
In a statement announcing the visit, the palace said: "The president of the United States of America, President Donald J Trump, accompanied by the first lady, Mrs Melania Trump, will pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom as the guests of Their Majesties The King and Queen, from Wednesday 17th September to Thursday 18th September 2025. The president and first lady will stay at Windsor Castle."