Donald Trump has landed in Britain for a lavish state visit full of pomp and pageantry, but behind the tiaras and brass bands lies one of the biggest security operations the country has ever seen.
At Windsor Castle, staff have polished the mahogany tables for the banquet while grooms have buffed the horses that will pull the royal carriages. The military honour guard has been drilled for perfection as King Charles and Queen Camilla prepare to host Trump for his second state visit, aimed at strengthening ties at a tense time for global trade and security, reported the Mirror.
Specialist police have been combing through Windsor Castle, where Trump will spend the night, as part of a multimillion-pound security operation months in the making. The royal town has been turned into a fortress, with a “ring of steel” now surrounding it. Armed officers, sniffer dogs, mounted patrols and marine units are stationed around the area, drones are monitoring the skies, and airspace has been closed. Large parts of Windsor are blocked off with barricades, in a lockdown described by security chiefs as being on the scale of the King’s coronation.
The operation is further intensified after the murder of Trump’s ally Charlie Kirk last week, adding to concerns over the visit. Thousands of British police officers will work alongside US Secret Service agents. Trump will travel in his armoured limousine known as “the Beast” as well as Marine One, with a sprawling motorcade likely to exceed 20 vehicles. The convoy is believed to include cars equipped with electronic defence technology, a hazardous materials unit, satellite communications and an ambulance, all flown over by the US Air Force. Helicopters have already been spotted at RAF Northolt.
“It’s like that old joke – the circus comes to town – and it will feel like that,” former UK counter-terrorism co-ordinator Nick Aldworth told the Telegraph. “The British like to do security well, but quietly and understated. The Americans like to assert themselves and go big early. They will swamp whichever venue they’re going to.”
The Home Office has been working closely with US officials, negotiating sensitive issues such as whether Trump’s bodyguards can carry firearms. Typically, American agents shadow British police and are ready to intervene if needed. Protective security consultant Will Geddes said clear agreements have been put in place: “There’ll be a hard-copy agreement and a very clear audit trail in case something happens and someone deviates from it.”
Geddes added that a UK special forces team may be on standby. “There is a domestic terrorism concern, a threat from Islamist extremism, anti-Trump protesters and those types who may want to do a stupid publicity stunt,” he said. “You could have something outside the police cordon which causes harm to people who turn up to see the spectacle – an attacker who stabs people, or a device at a landmark.”
Among the teams are behavioural specialists scanning crowds for unusual behaviour, airborne troops ready to abseil in if required, and snipers in position. Technology to block drones and signals could also be deployed.
Trump and First Lady Melania will stay at Windsor Castle since Buckingham Palace remains under renovation. They will be welcomed with a carriage procession, a gun salute and a state banquet in St George’s Hall, with Trump also set to lay a wreath at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb. The visit will feature a Red Arrows flypast joined by UK and US F-35 jets.
On Thursday, Trump will head to Chequers for talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. They are expected to cover Ukraine, Gaza and Washington’s concerns about Britain’s free speech stance. Meanwhile, protests are planned across the country, including a major “Trump Not Welcome” demonstration in central London organised by the Stop Trump Coalition.
