Prince Andrew was photographed enjoying a morning horse ride on the Windsor estate on Saturday as security was stepped up ahead of President Donald Trump's state visit this week.
The 65-year-old royal drove himself to the stables in a Range Rover and later took a canter along the grounds with a groom, appearing relaxed as workers and officers prepared the area for the arrival of Mr. Trump. The prince wore a claret jumper bearing a royal household crest, black leather riding boots and navy trousers for the excursion.
Officials have increased security around Windsor Castle ahead of the US president's arrival, with a "ring of steel" planned and specialist teams conducting searches of bollards, bins and other potential vulnerabilities. A sniffer dog was seen on patrol, and Thames Valley Police said searches would continue around the clock. "Being in Thames Valley Police, we've got lots of people that live here of a royal variety, so just making sure that everyone is safe is something we do quite often," Sergeant Amber Timmis said, adding officers were experienced in high-profile protection operations.
Mr. Trump will spend one night at Windsor Castle during his two-day visit to the United Kingdom. On Wednesday morning he and First Lady Melania Trump are due to meet the Prince and Princess of Wales on the castle grounds, followed by an open-air greeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla. The visit will include a fly-past by the Red Arrows and UK and US F-35 military jets over the East Lawn, and a Beating Retreat military ceremony. A royal salute is scheduled to be fired from the east lawn of Windsor Castle and at the Tower of London.
Buckingham Palace said there would be no public element during Mr. Trump's first day at Windsor and that any carriage movement would be confined to Home Park. A carriage procession through the Windsor estate is planned featuring the king and senior members of the royal family. Mr. Trump is also expected to meet Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer at Chequers, the prime minister's official country residence in Buckinghamshire. On Thursday, the Princess of Wales is due to join Mrs. Trump at Frogmore Gardens to meet the chief scout and members of a youngsters' scouting programme.
Large protests are expected in both Windsor and London, organised by the Stop Trump Coalition, and authorities have warned of demonstrations that could accompany the visit. Security measures have been intensified in response to those plans and amid broader concerns about incidents targeting public figures.
Prince Andrew's public profile has been under strain following the publication last month of Andrew Lownie's book, "Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York," which commentators and royal observers say further affected perceptions of the king's younger brother. On Saturday, Andrew appeared to move through Windsor's historic grounds with little visible disruption from the heightened security preparations taking place around the estate.