President Donald Trump paid a heartfelt tribute to America’s relationship with the UK saying the word “special does not begin to do it justice” as he delivered a speech at a state banquet held in his honour.
The King in turn said Britain and the United States share “the closest defence, security and intelligence relationship ever known” in his own speech at the lavish event at the end of the first day of Mr Trump’s historic second state visit.
He also praised the US president for his "personal commitment" to finding solutions to world conflicts.
The US leader in his speech heaped praise on the King describing his as a “very, very special man”, listing a catalogue of his passions from the environment to architecture.
“The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal”, he went on to say.
“Seen from American eyes the word special does not begin to do it justice.”
He called the unprecdented second state visit “one of highest honours of my life”
The US president was treated to the “grandest of welcomes” as an unprecedented level of pomp was rolled out for Mr Trump at Windsor Castle on the first official day of his visit as the Royal family used its "soft diplomacy" to strengthen the UK's ties with one of its most enduring allies.
While the second and final day of the visit on Thursday promises to be more precarious for the hopes of a successful visit, as the US President meets Sir Keir Starmer at Chequers for talks and the pair will hold a joint press conference.
Both leaders could face awkward questions over Gaza, the future of the Ukraine conflict and Sir Keir’s sacking of Peter Mandelson as the US ambassador over his links to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has also faced pressure over his own relationship with the disgraced late financier.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were deployed at the start of the royal charm offensive on Wednesday to greet the Trumps who arrived in the Marine One helicopter.
Around 1,500 troops were involved in the ceremonial events throughout the day – almost double those on duty for the recent state visit of France’s President Emmanuel Macron.
The day featured a carriage procession through the grounds of Windsor Castle, accompanied by 80 mounted soldiers – similar to scenes from Trooping the Colour – and a 120-strong guard of honour, the largest staged for a state visit in living memory.
William and Kate later had a short private meeting with the president and the first lady after the royal party sat down to lunch and viewed US artefacts from the royal archive, relating to the UK’s special relationship with America.
Waiting nearby the helicopter landing site was the King and Queen and after they exchanged greetings with their guests, Charles and Mr Trump appeared to be engaged in deep discussion which carried on as they settled into their places in the Scottish State Coach and set off in the carriage procession.
At one stage, as Mr Trump spoke to some of the guardsmen on parade, the King joked “watch the sword” as a blade was swung near the pair during the ceremony.
The president was later shown a letter sent from Abraham Lincoln to Queen Victoria in 1862 expressing his condolences after the death of Prince Albert, which was described as a “defining moment” in the special relationship between the UK and the US.
The US leader later laid a wreath at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II, who hosted his first state visit, at St George’s Chapel inside Windsor Castle.
The Trumps were taken on a tour of the building and were shown Henry VIII’s vault and Sir Winston Churchill’s stall plate denoting his membership of the Order of the Garter, which the president described as “a great honour”.
The last military event saw a Beating Retreat ceremony staged for the president and the first lady on the castle’s east lawn featuring UK military personnel as well as a flyover from the Red Arrows.
The culmination of the day was the state banquet hosted by the King and Queen and attended by 160 guests.
Those at the dinner included the Prince and Princess of Wales, stars of the world of golf, tech leaders and media mogul Rupert Murdoch, despite him and his his newspaper the Wall Street Journal being sued by the US president.
