PHOTOGRAPHING President Trump and his First Lady Melania looking at gifts given to the royal family over the years brought back many memories for me.
After lunch at Windsor Castle Mr and Mrs Trump, along with the King and Queen and Catherine and William looked at photos of the late Queen Elizabeth riding with President Reagan when he came over here in 1982.
Donald Trump looked at all the gifts given by US presidents[/caption]
Arthur Edwards photographed the Prince and Princess of Wales[/caption]
The President posed for pictures with his lovely wife who unfortunately was wearing a low-brimmed hat[/caption]
I remember that very clearly because I photographed that event in Windsor Great Park where Her Majesty and Ronnie Reagan just mounted their horses and galloped along the riverbank.
It was a wonderful and totally unexpected occasion. President Trump looked at all the gifts given by US presidents including a cocktail shaker that was given to King George VI and the Queen Mother on a visit to the World Trade Fair in New York in 1939.
The President posed for pictures with his lovely wife who unfortunately was wearing a low-brimmed hat and you could hardly see her face, which she had worn all through lunch as well.
The King is a hospitable man who made the President feel very welcome with lovely Queen Camilla.
Catherine looked absolutely stunning as always with Prince William.
They showed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio all the gifts.
Catherine was enjoying herself and seemed the most interested, reading all the small print on each item.
President Trump clearly loves the UK and our tradition. The royals laid laid it on thick to impress our greatest ally.
In all my years of covering royal events I have never seen such an incredible security operation, with 200 secret servicemen and armed police everywhere.
After today’s pomp and circumstance, tomorrow politics will take centre stage at the Prime Minister’s residence Chequers before Mr Trump heads home. A job well done.
This comes as Mr Trump was given a warm welcome by his “long-time friend” King Charles today in a spectacular start to his historic state visit.
An emotional part of the packed day came as the US leader paid a visit to St George’s Chapel, where the late Queen is buried.
Trump – who was known to have huge affection for Queen Elizabeth – movingly laid a wreath at her tomb and said it was a “huge honour” after he was allowed ten minutes there.
The late monarch hosted the Trumps for a state dinner six years ago.
Catherine was enjoying herself and seemed the most interested, according to the royal photographer[/caption]
King Charles made Mr Trump feel very welcome at the event[/caption]
Catherine looked absolutely stunning as always with Prince William[/caption]
Melania wore her large hat throughout the lunch[/caption]
The Trumps and the Starmers joined the King and Queen to watch an amazing display by the Red Arrows this afternoon.
The dreary skies provided a backdrop for the stunning red, white and blue smoke, delighting the US leader as he grinned and clapped.
But the flypast of F-35s was sadly cancelled because of the bad weather.
The group watching from a raised platform looked slightly windswept in the autumn weather – but Trump and Charles still chatted animatedly.
Later in the evening – to top off the royal celebrations – there will be a lavish state banquet at 8pm where both the King and the President are expected to deliver speeches.
The Trumps will stay overnight in the 1,000-year-old castle as guests of the King and Queen.
Pomp and pageantry was out in full force this morning, with the scale and spectacle of the military ceremonial on show for Trump unprecedented.
The American couple joined the royal family for a scenic carriage ride through the green parkland to the castle.
Charles and Trump seemed deep in conversation as they rode next to each other in their 172-year-old carriage during the spectacular procession.
Queen Camilla and US First Lady Melania Trump also travelled side by side, followed by Kate and Wills.
Some 120 horses and 1,300 members of the British military were involved in the elaborate welcome at Windsor which featured the largest ever Guard of Honour for this occasion.
There was obvious warmth between the King and Trump as they laughed and appeared deep in conversation while walking together.
US President Donald Trump and King Charles reacting to a Beating Retreat military ceremony at Windsor Castle today[/caption]
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria met with the US President and his wife Melania[/caption]
