Thousands of protesters marched through central London in protest against Donald Trump’s second state visit to the UK.
Protesters came from across the country to march from Portland Place to Parliament Square, while unprecedented pomp was rolled out for Mr Trump at Windsor Castle.
The Met Police estimated around 5,000 protesters gathered in Parliament Square on Wednesday as part of the Stop Trump Coalition demonstration.
The force had said it was deploying more than 1,600 officers to ensure the protest takes place smoothly, including 500 brought in from other forces.
Protesters began gathering at around 1.30pm on Wednesday, including two dozen drummers aged between 30 and 60, who made a cacophony of noise.
Demonstrators held signs with anti-Trump slogans such as “No to racism, no to Trump”, and “Stop Trump, stop fascism” as they made their way through the city centre.
One protesting pensioner was brought to tears as he told the Standard Mr Trump is a “corrosion on democracy”.
Londoner John Gibson said he feels strongly that people need to see “how much Trump is a danger and is corrosive for democracy everywhere”.
The 81-year-old added: “Everybody in my family feels like this but I am the only one who can make it here as they all work.
“He is corrosive upon democracy not just in our country, but all over Europe.”
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Lewis Nielsen, an “anti-fascist officer” at Stand Up to Racism, said: “We think what he stands for gives confidence to the far-right in Britain.
“We’re matching here in our thousands to say that Trump’s not welcome.”
Sylvia Jones travelled from Dublin to protest against Trump’s state visit because she said it “makes her blood boil”.
Dressed as a baby, Ms Jones said: “I identify as a baby but he’s a bigger one than I am.
“I’m not in favour of the Trump presidency. He is so unpredictable and dangerous. He is not a very sound leader.
“The state visit is an absolute embarrassment for the British people. It makes my blood boil.”
Another protester told the Standard the Trump state visit has caused her “a humongous amount of anxiety”.
Stephanie Cornish, 56, an American who has been living in Hemel Hempstead for the last 15 years, explained: “I see what he’s been doing to my country and how that affects my family and everybody and how that is steamrolling across the world.
“I would have thought Keir Starmer would have more sense than to accept the visit.”
She continued: “Rights are being taken away from children and women and he is spreading hate.
“If I didn’t say anything I would feel complicit.”
Meanwhile, Martin Edwards, 72, spent more than £500 making 1,800 anti-Trump badges to hand out for free at today’s demonstration.
The badges include pictures of Trump’s face with the slogans: “Trump? Hell no!” and “boycott USA”.
At 30p a unit, Mr Edwards, from London, has spent at least £540 of his own money making these badges.
When asked about his motivations for making the badges, he said: “It’s because I don’t like Trump and I thought if he’s coming to this country I want to make sure people have something they can wear and say ‘no thank you’”.
Steve Eaton Evans, 64, often impersonates Trump and came to the protest dressed as the US president.
The retired drama teacher from Woodstock in Oxfordshire, said: “I think Trump is the worst leader probably in the world.
“He is the least qualified man to be in charge of a nuclear button.”
Once it had reached Parliament Square, the protest also heard from politicians, including veteran Islington MP Jeremy Corbyn and newly elected Green Party leader Zack Polanski.
Among the speakers was former Labour MP Zarah Sultana, who said “this is our chance to show the world that the real Britain rejects hate, that we choose unity over division”.
The MP continued: “Why is there endless money for state banquets but not for feeding hungry children and heating our homes?
“There’s always money for war but never for the poor and that must change.
“This demonstration is about Donald Trump, yes, but it’s also about what type of country we will be.
“Together we will fight and defeat the far right.”
Mr Corbyn later congratulated the activists who projected an image of US President Donald Trump and paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle.
Speaking to crowds, he said “well done” to the people responsible.
Thames Valley Police said it had arrested four people on suspicion of malicious communications in connection with the stunt at the Berkshire royal residence.
Mr Corbyn said: “There’s something very sinister about our times when peaceful protest becomes terrorism: when an ad van going around Windsor Castle perfectly legally is then stopped by the police, taken away, and those people prevented from expressing a point of view.
“This is what’s happening to our democratic rights and democratic values in our society. They take away the right to protest because they don’t want us to protest.”
Thames Valley Police said its officers had spoken with the driver of an ad van which showed a picture of Mr Trump with Epstein, adding that no arrests were made and no vehicles were seized.
