US President Donald Trump and King Charles III exchanged pleasantries during their opening remarks at the state banquet held to mark the start of the US president's official visit to the UK on Wednesday.
“It is a singular privilege to be the first American president to be welcomed here,” Trump began his speech, noting that “it is truly one of the greatest honors” of his life.
He then continued with a long list of praise for the British monarch and his love for his country: “He has given his terrible heart with everything he has to those parts of Great Britain that are beyond the scope of mere legislation,” Trump noted.
The American also praised the United Kingdom, pointing to one of its closest partners: “ The bond of kinship and identity between the United States and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal ; it is irreplaceable and unbreakable,” said Donald Trump.
The US president also said one of his most repeated phrases: “And as a country, as you know, we’re doing incredibly well. A year ago we had a very sick country, and today I think we’re the sexiest country in the world.”
For his part, Charles III praised the president's"personal commitment to finding solutions to some of the world's most intractable conflicts," without mentioning any in particular.
“As tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine to deter aggression and secure peace,” the monarch said in his speech, emphasizing the two countries’ efforts to maintain “the closest defense, security, and intelligence relationship ever known.”
The king emphasized the strong relationship between the two countries since the independence of the United States to the present day, including their collaboration during the World Wars. He even joked that if press rumors about an alleged affair with Richard Nixon's daughter in the 1970s had been true, that"special relationship" would have strengthened even further.
“This unique and important occasion reflects the enduring bond between our two great nations, cemented by the deep friendship between our peoples (...) We have celebrated together, wept together and stood together through the best and worst of times,” said Charles III.
He also noted the fact that Trump has set foot on British soil twice in the past two months—visiting Scotland in late July—and joked that “British soil makes a splendid golf course.”
Trump and Charles III sat in the middle of the table, flanked by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Princess Catherine of Wales, respectively, while on the other side of the table sat Queen Melania Trump, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Prince William.
A table the length of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, lit by 139 chandeliers, seated 160 guests. They included UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer; prominent members of politics and royalty; and prominent business leaders. In attendance were Apple CEO Tim Cook; media mogul Rupert Murdoch; Nvidia boss Jensen Huang; and OpenAI boss Sam Altman.
The menu opened with a watercress panna cotta accompanied by Hampshire quail eggs and a Parmesan biscuit. The main course was an organic Norfolk chicken ball wrapped in zucchini and tossed in a thyme-infused jus. Dessert included a vanilla ice cream bombe with Kentish raspberry sorbet and lightly poached plums.
Although Trump doesn't drink alcohol, symbolic bottles were uncorked at the state banquet: a 1945 Warre's Vintage Port, a nod to his status as the 45th and 47th president; a 1912 Hennessy cognac, the year his Scottish mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born; and a Pol Roger champagne, a favorite of Winston Churchill, among others.
