Following a successful banquet last night, President Trump and the First Lady will continue their state visit to the UK today as Melania is set for a one-on-one with Princess Kate
The second day of President Donald Trump and the First Lady’s state visit is underway and the Princess of Wales is set to spend some one-on-one time with Melania.
The pair will enjoy a meeting at Frogmore Gardens, a 33-acre estate within Windsor Castle. It is here that Kate and Melania will undertake a ‘secret squirrel’ mission which involves meeting with Dwayne Fields, the Chief Scout of the Scouts Association, of which Kate is a patron.
Kate and Melania will speak with members of the Scouts’ Squirrels programme and learn more about how children can earn a nature-related badge as part of the scheme.
Yesterday, the Trumps arrived at Windsor Castle where they were greeted by William and Kate before being taken to meet the King and Queen. They then joined the royals in a carriage procession through the estate, towards the castle, where they were escorted by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
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In the evening, the King hosted a State Banquet in St George’s Hall for the President and First Lady, and made a speech in which he referred to the closeness of the two nations.
He said: “This unique and important occasion reflects the enduring bond between our two great nations. Anchored by the deep friendship between our people, this relationship which, with good reason, we and our predecessors have long called ‘special’, has made us safer and stronger through the generations.”
Trump, meanwhile, said the visit was “one of the highest honours” of his life, and stated that he had “such respect” for the King and the UK. He said: “For many decades, His Majesty the King has epitomised the fortitude, nobility, and the spirit of the British monarchy and the British people.”
The President added that he had been “very impressed” that the King had known the names of all 150 people whose hands Trump had shaken that day. He joked: “Some of them had bad names like ‘XYZ-Q3,’ and he knew every one of them — or at least I think he did, because nobody was complaining.”
The King and Queen also exchanged gifts with the Trumps, giving the president a bespoke, hand-bound leather book to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
They also gave Trump the Union flag that was flown above Buckingham Palace on the day of his inauguration earlier this year, and Melania was given a silver and enamel bowl made by artist Cara Murphy, as well as a personalised Anya Hindmarch bag.
As a joint gift, the couple were given a silver frame with the joint cypher of the King and Queen. Meanwhile, the Trumps gave the King a replica of President Eisenhower’s Sword, and chose a Tiffany & Co vintage 18K gold brooch for Camilla.
