Donald Trump UK visit live: President joins royals for state banquet
The US President is in the UK for a state visit and D-Day anniversary commemorations.
US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania are attending a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
Earlier, the President and First Lady received a ceremonial welcome from the Queen at Buckingham Palace on the first day of his state visit.
Mr Trump viewed the Royal Collection, before laying a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey.
He then took tea with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House.
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Mr Trump said in his speech: “Your Majesty, Melania and I are profoundly honoured to be your guests for this historic state visit.
“Thank you for your warm welcome, for this beautiful weather, your gracious hospitality, and Your Majesty’s nearly seven decades of treasured friendship with the United States of America.
“This week, we commemorate a mighty endeavour of righteous nations and one of the greatest undertakings in all of history.
“Seventy-five years ago, more than 150,000 allied troops were preparing on this island to parachute into France, storm the beaches of Normandy, and win back our civilisation.
“As Her Majesty remembers, the British people had hoped and prayed and fought for this day for nearly five years.”
9.15pm
Mr Trump appeared to breach accepted royal protocol by touching the Queen on the back as she rose for his toast.
Mr Trump briefly and gently put his left hand out behind the monarch.
The Queen seemed unperturbed. Mr Trump had just delivered a glowing tribute to his host.
9pm
He paid tribute to the armed forces to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, and praised the royal family’s role in the war effort.
9pm
Mr Trump thanked the Queen for her “beautiful welcome”.
8.57pm
8.55pm
The Queen proposed a toast to Mr Trump, and guests stood for the US national anthem.
8.54pm
The Queen welcomed Mr Trump to the UK, saying she was confident the UK’s “common values” with the US would “continue to unite us”.
The Queen spoke of the “new challenges” the US and the UK face in the 21st century, and stressed the bonds between the two countries.
“As we face the new challenges of the 21st century, the anniversary of D-Day reminds us of all that our countries have achieved together,” she said
“After the shared sacrifices of the Second World War, Britain and the United States worked with other allies to build an assembly of international institutions, to ensure that the horrors of conflict would never be repeated.
“While the world has changed, we are forever mindful of the original purpose of these structures: nations working together to safeguard a hard-won peace.”
8.50pm
The Queen and President Donald Trump have arrived in the ballroom, followed by First Lady Melania Trump and the Prince of Wales.
8.45pm
Guests are beginning to file into the ballroom, ready for the banquet.
One of the first was Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt with his wife Lucia.
Eric Trump, in white tie and tails, was seen smiling with his wife Lara, who wore a black and white patterned gown with long white gloves, as they made their way to the grand palace room.
Tiffany Trump was dressed in a dark red off-the-shoulder velvet gown and wore her hair down. She also opted for long white gloves.
8.35pm
As is tradition, the Queen, who does not have her own place card, is at the head of the table, with the Prince of Wales on her left and Mr Trump on her right.
Joining Mr Trump and First Lady Melania at the white tie and tiara event are four of Mr Trump’s five children – Ivanka Trump, with her husband Jared Kushner, Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump and his wife Lara, and Tiffany Trump.
Sixteen members of the royal family are at the dinner – the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra.
The Duke of Sussex, who was at the private lunch earlier, will be noticeably absent, as will the Duchess of Sussex who is on maternity leave, looking after their four-week-old son Archie.
8.31pm
8.30pm
US President Donald Trump and his family are attending a lavish state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
In the palace ballroom with its six glittering chandeliers, the vast white-clothed horse shoe-shaped table has been laden with George IV’s silver gilt Grand Service dinner set.
Small white place cards embossed with a golden royal crest and edged in gold are at each setting, to show where the 170 guests are to be seated.
8.15pm
Protesters gathered outside Buckingham Palace this evening. Mr Trump said earlier he had not seen any demonstrations, with only “great love all around”.
8pm
Presidential helicopter Marine One has landed at Buckingham Palace ahead of the banquet.
7.30pm
US President Donald Trump will this evening attend a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
Around 170 guests – who have been invited on the basis of their cultural, diplomatic or economic links to the US – will dine on a exquisite menu prepared by royal chefs.
7.10pm
6.45pm
President Donald Trump took to Twitter to comment on the United States’ “strong” relationship with the UK on day one of his state visit.
6.40pm
Protesters have gathered outside Buckingham Palace ahead of Donald Trump’s return for the banquet.
6.20pm
Preparations are well under way ahead of this evening’s state banquet at Buckingham Palace – will we get a glimpse of the menu?
6pm
Amnesty International activists have displayed banners protesting against Donald Trump near to the US Embassy.
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Jeremy Corbyn’s attendance at Tuesday’s protest against Donald Trump follows his boycott of this evening’s state banquet.
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5.10pm
It has been confirmed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will speak at the protest against Donald Trump’s visit on Tuesday.
5.05pm
President Trump has arrived back at Winfield House via helicopter, following his tea with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
5pm
Ivanka Trump said it was “an incredible honor” to meet the Queen.
4.45pm
The US Embassy has released a video of the President and First Lady receiving a ceremonial welcome at Buckingham Palace earlier today.
4.30pm
During their tea at Clarence House, Mr Trump and his wife were shown an Oscar Nemon sculpture of Sir Winston and Lady Churchill which was presented to the Queen Mother in November 1990.
The sculpture, from the Royal Collection, is usually on display at Clarence House.
The couple were also shown a letter written by the Queen Mother to the then Princess Elizabeth in 1939 during a state visit to the US.
Dated June 11 1939, the letter was written from the Hudson, NY, and begins “My Darling Lilibet”.
It says: “It was such fun talking to you both on the telephone today, and directly after we had spoken we went off for a picnic luncheon.
“There were a lot of people there, and we all sat at little tables under the trees round the house, and had all our food on one plate – a little salmon, some turkey, some ham, lettuce, beans & HOT DOGS too! […]
“This evening, after dinner we are leaving, & tomorrow morning we start the last week of our trip.
“I must say that I don’t think that I could bear very much more, as there comes a moment when one’s resistance nearly goes.
“I am dripping at this moment so I hope that the paper won’t get soaked!
“We had two burning, boiling, sweltering, humid furnace-like days in Washington…”
4.05pm
Donald Trump has joined the Prince of Wales for tea at Clarence House.
Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall greeted Mr Trump and First Lady Melania in the garden as they arrived for afternoon tea at their official residence.
Camilla wore a beige and white spotted silk dress by Fiona Clare for the occasion.
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The president called Westminster Abbey a “special place” in the Distinguished Visitors’ Book, which he signed under the Congressional Medal of Honour in the Abbey’s nave.
The message, written in black marker pen, said: “Thank you so much.
“This has been a great honor. Special place.”
Mr and Mrs Trump both put their signatures underneath.
3.50pm
The Dean of Westminster took Mr Trump on a tour of the Abbey, accompanied by Mrs Trump, his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner.
Mr Trump marvelled at the age of the Abbey – after finding out it was built 1269 and will celebrate 750 years in 2019 – turning to Mrs Trump to relay the message.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and adviser Kellyanne Conway also joined the tour.
3.45pm
Labour MP Kate Hoey said she is “saddened” by the “hysterical” response from some of her party colleagues to the arrival of US President Donald Trump.
3.40pm
Westminster Abbey has released a video of the presidential visit.
3.30pm
Back at Buckingham Palace, Trump supporters made their feeling clear.
3.20pm
The President was welcomed to Westminster Abbey by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, who led prayers at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior.
A wreath was laid in honour of the two World Wars and more recent conflicts, as is tradition with a state visit – President George W Bush laid a wreath in 2003 and President Obama in 2011.
Standing at the grave, the President touched his hand on the wreath and kept his eyes closed during the prayer.
3.15pm
Meanwhile, the Queen’s official gifts to the Trumps have been revealed.
The monarch gave Mr Trump a first edition of The Second World War by Winston S Churchill from 1959.
The crimson book features gold tooled decoration on the cover, spine and inner cover, an EIIR cypher in gold on the front, silk endpapers and hand-sewn headbands in colours of the US flag with all pages edged in gilt.
The Queen also gave Mr Trump a three-piece Duofold pen set – a fountain pen, rollerball pen and ball point pen with EIIR cypher – using the obsidian design, exclusively made for the monarch.
Mrs Trump was presented with a specially commissioned silver box with a handcrafted enamel lid.
Its royal blue decoration featured roses, thistles and shamrocks to represent the ceiling of the palace music room.
3.10pm
The Duke of York joined the Trumps for the Westminster Abbey ceremony.
3pm
US President Donald Trump has left Buckingham Palace, and the motorcade is heading to Westminster Abbey.
2.55pm
Royal guards marched down Birdcage Walk towards Westminster Abbey, ahead of the president’s visit. Mr Trump will lay a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Warrior.
2.45pm
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The Duke of Sussex was seen chatting to Mr Trump’s daughter Ivanka as the presidential party viewed the Royal Collection.
The Queen led the president into the palace’s picture gallery to view an exhibition of American artefacts.
With the US leader’s Scottish heritage, a bolt of Harris tweed was pointed out to him and the monarch rubbed her fingers to indicate its soft texture.
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A handful of people, some of whom were wearing Make America Great Again hats, briefly chanted “USA” and “Trump” outside the palace as people waited for the president to leave the royal residence.
2.30pm
The US Embassy has released footage of the earlier double gun salute in Green Park.
Soldiers from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery led 71 horses, pulling six First World War-era 13-pounder field guns, into place, to fire 82 blank artillery rounds at 10-second intervals.
The first 41-gun salute honoured Mr Trump’s state visit. The second round of 41 shots marked the 66th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation on Sunday.
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When he arrived at the palace, Mr Trump appeared to deliver an unusual handshake upon the meeting the Queen with some remarking it looked like a fist bump.
But he actually seemed to clench the monarch’s hand rather than shaking it with a flat hand.
Body language expert Judi James suggested Mr Trump – who is known for his extreme hand-holding – was not able to get a proper grasp because the Queen usually offers only her fingertips – and that his “huge hands” did not help matters.
The American leader has form for grabbing hands and holding on to them for a long period of time, but the Queen was spared this.
Ms James said “Donald Trump is more inhibited when he’s shaking hands with the Queen. He was leaning forward from a distance, with a tentative pawing of her hand.
“The Queen only ever offers her fingertips so he couldn’t get a grasp. He probably wasn’t touching much more than her fingers.”
She added: “His huge hand was enveloping her tiny one. But she was quite happy, chuckling and laughing.”
2pm
Earlier, Mr Trump’s arrival at Buckingham Palace was watched by members of his staff including press secretary Sarah Sanders and political adviser Kellyanne Conway, as well as his daughter Ivanka.
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Here’s the video of Mr Trump being greeted by the Queen earlier.
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12.45pm
Mr Trump took his time as he inspected the Guard of Honour, formed by Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards.
He walked ahead of Charles and strolled alongside Captain of the Guard Hamish Hardy.
12.40pm
When the royal party and their guests stepped from the palace the American national anthem was played and Mr Trump was invited to inspect the guard of honour.
Charles accompanied the president as he strode onto the lawns to inspect the waiting troops formed up in two lines with the guardsmen wearing their famous scarlet tunics and bearskins.
12.30pm
The Trumps and the royals then went inside the palace, through the Bow Room, where the Queen introduced senior members of her household to her guests and in-turn the US leader did the same with prominent figures from his entourage.
The Queen is in a muted jade Stewart Parvin A- line coat and pleated dress in shades of grey, jade and dusky pink with a matching Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat.
The Duchess of Cornwall wore a white Anna Valentine dress and a Philip Treacy hat.
After the helicopters had left the guard of honour formed by Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards under the command of Major Hamish Hardy, and the Band of the Grenadier Guards and Corps of Drums of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards formed up on the lawns.
12.25pm
The President’s daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner could be seen watching the helicopter arrive from a balcony at the back of the palace.
12.22pm
The booming sounds of a double gun salute in nearby Green Park echoed around the palace grounds.
Soldiers from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery led 71 horses, pulling six First World War-era 13-pounder field guns, into place, to fire 82 blank artillery rounds at 10-second intervals.
The first 41-gun salute honoured Mr Trump’s state visit.
The second round of 41 shots were staged to mark the 66th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation on Sunday.
The military’s celebration of the 1953 coronation was delayed until Monday as gun salutes are never fired on a Sunday.
With a 103-gun salute – 41 for the president and 62 for the coronation anniversary – also staged at the Tower of London, the British Army fired 185 guns in total for the historic double ceremonial salute.
The Trump state visit is the 112th of the Queen’s reign.
12.16pm
The Trumps were greeted by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
Both women were wearing white dresses with matching hats.
Charles and Camilla escorted the US leader and the First Lady the short distance to the palace’s west terrace where the Queen was waiting.
Normally state visits see leading figures from national like the prime minister and Commissioner of the Met Police introduced to the visiting foreign leader, but it was just the three senior royals taking part in the ceremonial welcome.
https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1135510623566143488
12.10pm
US President Donald Trump has arrived at Buckingham Palace by helicopter.
The American leader and First Lady Melania Trump landed in Marine One, the call sign of the United States Marine Corps aircraft carrying the president.
12.05pm
On the lack of official one-to-one talks between the two leaders, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said it was “always going to be the case” that the meeting in the Cabinet Room at Number 10 would involve the delegations.
“These are always how the discussions take place with any leader,” the spokesman said, adding there was “nothing unusual here”.
The spokesman insisted the two leaders would have time for informal private talks during Mr Trump’s visit.
“You can see the events they are at, you can see the fact she is providing him with a tour of the Churchill War Rooms, I would expect them to be having discussions with just the two of them.”
Downing Street also said the US President’s spat with London Mayor Sadiq Khan was a matter for them.
11.55am
Mr Trump and Theresa May will not have formal one-to-one talks during his visit, instead the two leaders will be joined by their delegations of senior officials and ministers for a bilateral meeting.
Downing Street insisted it was the normal for meetings between the two leaders to take place with their delegations.
They will also go on a private tour of the Churchill War Rooms, where Winston Churchill helped mastermind the Second World War effort.
11.50am
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Mr Trump used his time at Winfield House, the US ambassador’s residence, before meeting the Queen to watch television and tweet about two familiar targets – “fake news” CNN and China.
He wrote: “China is subsidizing its product in order that it can continue to be sold in the USA. Many firms are leaving China for other countries, including the United States, in order to avoid paying the Tariffs. No visible increase in costs or inflation, but U.S. is taking Billions!”
And 30 minutes later, he wrote to criticise CNN.
11.40am
11.30am
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has tweeted that Mr Trump arrives offering “American’s hand of friendship”.
Mr Farage is a friend of Mr Trump and was praised by the president for his party’s European elections successes before this visit.
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Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK is only the third by a US president.
The Queen has met 12 of the 13 American leaders who have been in office during her reign, but just George W Bush, Barack Obama and now Mr Trump have been treated to a grand state visit.
Although Mr Trump visited the UK earlier in his presidency, this is his first official state visit.
The invitation was made just seven days after his inauguration in January 2017, but a planned state visit in 2018, with all its pomp and ceremony, was downgraded to an official visit amid security concerns, although Mr Trump still met the Queen.
11am
Anti-Trump banners have been hung from Vauxhall Bridge in sight of the US Embassy in central London.
Activists from Amnesty International organised the action.
10.30am
First daughter Ivanka Trump was not on Air Force One with her father, but has tweeted that she is looking forward to joining the US delegation later in the day.
10.25am
Jeremy Hunt has commented on Donald Trump’s tweet that labelled London Mayor Sadiq Khan a “stone cold loser”, with an attack on the Labour Party and the mayor for what he called “virtue-signalling”.
The Foreign Secretary said: “The president does what the president does but let’s ask why he was so angry when he did that tweet and I think the very simple reason is he’s been shown great discourtesy.”
“What I would say is for Sadiq Khan and the Labour Party to be boycotting the state visit of the President of the United States, who has been invited here not by Theresa May but by Her Majesty the Queen to celebrate a relationship that goes back centuries but just 75 years ago saw a million American servicemen on our soil land ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for our liberty, is I’m afraid, virtue-signalling of the worst kind.”
10.10am
10am
Mr Trump’s visit will be met by protesters including a group which is relaunching the giant inflatable of the president as a large orange baby.
Fundraising for the project has passed the £30,000 target set.
9.40am
Sadiq Khan’s spokesman has responded to the tweeted criticism: “Donald Trump is the most egregious example of a growing far-right threat around the globe” as the spat between the London Mayor and US President intensified.
“This is much more serious than childish insults which should be beneath the President of the United States,” the spokesman added.
9.15am
Mr and Mrs Trump stepped off Air Force One amid windy conditions and were greeted by US Ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
The president appeared to salute a police officer who was also there to meet him.
He briefly held hands with Melania as they walked to their helicopter, Marine One.
8.54am
US president Donald Trump and his wife Melania have arrived at Stansted Airport on Air Force One.
8.50am
Donald Trump launched a trademark Twitter broadside at London Mayor Sadiq Khan as he touched down in the UK for a state visit.
And as he landed he mis-spelled the London Mayor’s name, writing: “@SadiqKhan, who by all accounts has done a terrible job as Mayor of London
