US President Donald Trump was hosted at a state banquet in the UK , where the menu included watercress panna cotta and chicken ballotine. Among the guests was media owner Rupert Murdoch, whom Trump has sued over a report about a birthday message to Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump, 79, did not appear affected by Murdoch’s presence. Speaking about relations with Britain, he said, "the word special does not begin to do it justice.”
The banquet was held in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle , which is nearly 1,000 years old. Windsor Castle is often described as the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, in almost continuous use since William I built it up in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest in 1066.
The long banquet table measured the length of 2.7 Marine One helicopters and featured 139 candles, 1,452 pieces of cutlery, and more than 100 staff. Royal officials said it took a week to assemble the table, as reported by the news agency AFP.
On one side of the hall's grand banquet table place settings were arranged for US secretary of state Marco Rubio, King Charles III, Trump and Catherine, the princess of Wales. On the other side: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Queen Camilla, Melania Trump and Prince William.
Menu and drinks
The first course was Hampshire watercress panna cotta with parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, Buckingham Palace said. The main course was an organic Norfolk chicken ballotine wrapped in courgettes with a thyme and savoury jus. Dessert was a vanilla ice cream bombe with Kentish raspberry sorbet and poached Victoria plums.
Although Trump does not drink alcohol, the drinks served carried symbolic meaning. A 1945 Warre’s port was chosen "in recognition of Donald J Trump as the 45th, as well as the 47th, President,” Buckingham Palace said. A 1912 Hennessy cognac was also served, marking the birth year of Trump’s Scottish mother.
The musical program included some of Trump’s campaign rally songs, including "Nessun Dorma” and Elton John’s "Tiny Dancer.”
What they said
King Charles III welcomed Trump with a toast, highlighting the relationship between the two countries. "Through the generations, our people have fought and died together for the values we hold dear,” he said. "We have celebrated together, mourned together and stood together in the best and worst of times.”
Trump thanked the king and Queen Camilla for their hospitality, saying, "extraordinary graciousness.” He added that the US and UK must defend "the exceptional heritage that makes us who we are, and we must continue to stand for the values and the people of the English-speaking world.”
Charles also referred to Ukraine. "Our countries have the closest defense, security and intelligence relationship ever known,” he said. "In two world wars, we fought together to defeat the forces of tyranny. Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace.”
This was Trump’s second royal banquet, the first having been in 2019. He is the first American president to be invited to two such events.
Calling the Windsor Castle dinner "one of the highest honors of my life,” Trump said it was important for the US and UK to continue to defend "the values of the English-speaking world.”
Among guests were Prince William, the heir to the British throne, and his wife, Princess Catherine, as well as Trump’s daughter Tiffany and her husband.
Also present were several American tech leaders, among them Nvidia chief Jensen Huang and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, highlighting the major technology deals being signed during the visit.
Trump, 79, did not appear affected by Murdoch’s presence. Speaking about relations with Britain, he said, "the word special does not begin to do it justice.”
The banquet was held in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle , which is nearly 1,000 years old. Windsor Castle is often described as the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, in almost continuous use since William I built it up in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest in 1066.
The long banquet table measured the length of 2.7 Marine One helicopters and featured 139 candles, 1,452 pieces of cutlery, and more than 100 staff. Royal officials said it took a week to assemble the table, as reported by the news agency AFP.
On one side of the hall's grand banquet table place settings were arranged for US secretary of state Marco Rubio, King Charles III, Trump and Catherine, the princess of Wales. On the other side: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Queen Camilla, Melania Trump and Prince William.
Menu and drinks
The first course was Hampshire watercress panna cotta with parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, Buckingham Palace said. The main course was an organic Norfolk chicken ballotine wrapped in courgettes with a thyme and savoury jus. Dessert was a vanilla ice cream bombe with Kentish raspberry sorbet and poached Victoria plums.
Although Trump does not drink alcohol, the drinks served carried symbolic meaning. A 1945 Warre’s port was chosen "in recognition of Donald J Trump as the 45th, as well as the 47th, President,” Buckingham Palace said. A 1912 Hennessy cognac was also served, marking the birth year of Trump’s Scottish mother.
The musical program included some of Trump’s campaign rally songs, including "Nessun Dorma” and Elton John’s "Tiny Dancer.”
What they said
King Charles III welcomed Trump with a toast, highlighting the relationship between the two countries. "Through the generations, our people have fought and died together for the values we hold dear,” he said. "We have celebrated together, mourned together and stood together in the best and worst of times.”
Trump thanked the king and Queen Camilla for their hospitality, saying, "extraordinary graciousness.” He added that the US and UK must defend "the exceptional heritage that makes us who we are, and we must continue to stand for the values and the people of the English-speaking world.”
"This is truly one of the highest honors of my life."
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 17, 2025
President Trump thanks King Charles and Queen Camilla for hosting him and First Lady Melania Trump at their historic second U.K. state dinner. pic.twitter.com/lr9sCPb3U9
Charles also referred to Ukraine. "Our countries have the closest defense, security and intelligence relationship ever known,” he said. "In two world wars, we fought together to defeat the forces of tyranny. Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace.”
This was Trump’s second royal banquet, the first having been in 2019. He is the first American president to be invited to two such events.
Calling the Windsor Castle dinner "one of the highest honors of my life,” Trump said it was important for the US and UK to continue to defend "the values of the English-speaking world.”
Among guests were Prince William, the heir to the British throne, and his wife, Princess Catherine, as well as Trump’s daughter Tiffany and her husband.
Also present were several American tech leaders, among them Nvidia chief Jensen Huang and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, highlighting the major technology deals being signed during the visit.
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