US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania joined King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle for the grand state banquet – and it was nothing short of perfection
During their state visit, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania attended the luxurious state banquet at Windsor Castle, hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla – and it was a rather glamorous affair.
The Prince and Princess of Wales also attended the state banquet on Wednesday, 17 September, with Kate seated next to Mr Trump, while Charles sat to his left. Among those invited were Rupert Murdoch, Elena Murdoch, Morgan Sweeney, Scott Bessent, Keir Starmer, Marco and Jeanette Rubio, and Sir Stephen Schwarzman.
Prep and planning for the banquet would have been in motion for months, with every specific detail thoroughly inspected by staff and the monarch himself. We’ve taken a closer look inside this year’s state banquet, from the precise table setting to the exquisite French menu…
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Elaboratetable setting
The glamorous state banquet was held in St George’s Hall, the largest room in the castle, at 180ft long and 29.5ft wide. The staff assembled the 50-metre mahogany table a week ago to seat 160 guests, and glassware and gold dishes were brought up from the royal safes and hand-polished before a close inspection.
The table was extravagantly adorned with pink, purple, and yellow blooms, boasting 139 candles, 1,452 pieces of hand-polished cutlery, and five glasses per setting for water, champagne, red, white and dessert wines, and a port. Napkins were folded into the shape of a Dutch bonnet, and each place setting was measured exactly 18 inches apart in perfect precision.
Each chair was meticulously placed at the same exact distance from the table, and the glasses were displayed at the same distance from the front edge of the table.
But how do they serve so many guests at once? In the grand hall, around 19 stations were set up around the edge of the room, each allocated four staff members – a page, a footman, an under butler, and a wine butler.
To ensure a smooth service, they reportedly use a traffic light system and diagrams to display the serving system. They also have an extensive list of special instructions, which could include dietary requirements or requests from their high-profile guests.
Ahead of their guests’ arrivals, the King and Queen were seen admiring the stunning floral displays in a video shared on the monarchy’s official social media, giving their nod of approval and inspecting the table. The royal couple also personally thanked the Household staff responsible for the meticulous planning and execution of the lavish event.
Exquisite French menu
As part of the state banquet tradition, chefs are handpicked to craft a menu that reflects the country of the guests of honour. The menu is also written in French as part of another prestigious tradition.
- Panna Cotta de Cresson et Œufs de Caille sur Sablé de Parmesan (Hampshire Watercress Panna Cotta with Parmesan Shortbread and Quail Egg Salad)
- Ballotine de Poulet Fermier en Robe de Courgettes (Organic Norfolk Chicken Ballotine wrapped in Courgettes, with a Thyme and Savoury Infused Jus)
- Bombe Glacée Cardinal (Vanilla Ice Cream Bombe with Kentish Raspberry Sorbet interior with lightly poached Victoria Plums)
Boozy beverages
The wines on offer included Wiston Estate, Cuvée, 2016; Domaine Bonneau de Martray, Corton-Charlemagne, Grand Cru, 2018; Ridge Vineyards, and Monte Bello, 2000. Sir Winston Churchill’s favourite champagne, Pol Roger, extra cuvee de Reserve, 1998, was also chosen because of the president’s love of the wartime prime minister.
Post-dinner, guests were served Warre’s 1945 Vintage Port, in recognition of Mr Trump as the 45th, as well as the 47th, President of the United States. In addition, there was a Hennessy 1912 Cognac Grande Champagne, which had a touching tribute to Mr Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, as it reflected the year she was born in Scotland.
Furthermore, Bowmore Queen’s Cask 1980, Islay, which was gifted to the late Queen Elizabeth in 1980 and bottled for her Golden Jubilee in 2002, was also available.
Breaking tradition, a bespoke cocktail, the Transatlantic Whisky Sour, was also crafted for the event. The drink is described as a UK/US take on the timeless Whisky Sour, as it “blends the smoky depth of Johnnie Walker Black with the bright citrus of marmalade”.
It’s characterised as being “crowned with a pecan foam and garnished with a toasted marshmallow set on a star-shaped biscuit, evoking the warmth of a fireside S’more.” The cocktail was said to have been served to acknowledge and honour the “special relationship” between Britain and the United States.
Nevertheless, as Mr Trump abstains from alcohol, he likely declined the drink crafted to commemorate his arrival on British soil. “I’ve never had a drink,” the President revealed to Fox News in 2016.
