Royal carriage procession for Donald Trump on State Visit with William and Kate taking lead role

The US President, Donald Trump, will be given the full pageantry of a carriage procession to start his historic State Visit to the UK.

President Trump will travel through the grounds of the Windsor estate as the official welcome gets under way for his second State Visit. He will be hosted at Windsor Castle by King Charles and Queen Camilla.

The Prince ad Princess of Wales will also play a key role in this State Visit, the first time an elected leader has been given two such visits in the UK.

William and Kate will greet President Trump and his wife, Melania, at the start of their trip and accompany them to the official welcome ceremony hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla. This will continue with the carriage procession to the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle.

It marks a notable difference from the first State Visit which saw President and Mrs Trump helicopter into the grounds of Buckingham Palace as security concerns put an end to a carriage ride through London.

This latest visit is filled with pageantry. As the carriage procession gets under way, the British and US national anthems will be played. The route will be lined by members of the Armed Forces as well as three military bands from the Army, Navy and RAF.

There’s another first in this historic event. On arrival at the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle, a Guard of Honour, with the State Colours of the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards will greet the party. It’s the first time that all three State Colours will feature – usually just one is used.

The Guard of Honour will be joined by a Foot Guards Massed Band and the Pipes and Drums will give a Royal Salute; the Band will play the US and British National Anthems.

Donald Trump will the be invited to join King Charles to inspect a Guard of Honour. He famously appeared to lose Queen Elizabeth II when he inspected a Guard of Honour with her at Windsor during his first term in office.

After lunch with the Royal Family, the US President has been given the honour of a private visit to the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II where he will lay a wreath. He has spoken often of his deep admiration for her.

The afternoon will end with another moment of pageantry. The Prime Minister will join the party for a a Beating Retreat ceremony on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle. If the weather holds, there will also be a flypast by the Red Arrows.

The first day concludes with a State Banquet in honour of President and Mrs Trump at Windsor Castle.

On day two, after a formal farewell with The King and Queen, President Trump joins the Prime Minister at Chequers. Meanwhile, the US First Lady will be shown Queen Mary’s Dolls House by Queen Camilla. Later, the Princess of Wales will host Melania Trump in Frogmore Gardens where they will meet the Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields, and members of the Scouts’ Squirrels programme as they learn about nature to achieve their ‘Go Wild’ badge.

The US State Visit to the UK is on September 17 and 18 2025.