As per tradition with State Visits, The King and Queen hosted a State Banquet in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle for the US President and First Lady.
The Banquet comes a day filled with pomp and pageantry with a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle.
Queen Camilla wore a blue silk embroidered dress by Fiona Clare, paired with the Belgian Sapphire Tiara.
The Princess of Wales wore a couture Phillipa Leple hand-embroidered gold Chantilly lace evening coat over a silk crepe dress, paired with the Lover’s Knot tiara and a pair of the late Queen’s earrings.
More sparkles were seen during the evening with The Princess Royal wear her Cartier Aquamarine Pineflower Tiara, and The Duchess of Gloucester in the Honeysuckle Tiara.
Tonight’s banquet also marked Sir Tim Laurence’s debut wearing the insignia of the Royal Victorian Order, after he was awarded the rank of Knight Grand Cross by His Majesty over the summer.
Opening his speech, The King spoke of the ‘enduring bond’ between the UK and USA.
Referring how Trump is the first President to be granted a second State Visit, Charles noted how ‘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’.
‘Our people have fought and died together for the values we hold dear. We have innovated, traded and created together, fuelling our economies and cultures through myriad forms of exchange. We have celebrated together, mourned together and stood together in the best and worst of times.’
His Majesty stated how it was ‘remarkable’ to think how far the relationship had come since the American declaration of independence in 1776, which marks its 250th anniversary of independence next year.
‘The rebel commander and pioneering first President, George Washington, famously vowed never to set foot on British soil. And my five times great grandfather, King George III, for his part, did not spare his words when he spoke of the revolutionary leaders.’
‘Today, however, we celebrate a relationship between our two countries that surely neither Washington nor King George III could possibly have imagined. The ocean may still divide us, but in so many other ways we are now the closest of kin.’
Charles made sure to mention about one of Trump’s favourite hobbies – golf – joking how he had not ‘only have you set foot on British soil twice in the last two months alone, but I understand that British soil makes for rather splendid golf courses!’
In the President’s speech, Trump stated his second state visit to the UK as ‘one of the highest honours of my life’, adding how it is ‘a singular privilege to be the first American President welcomed here and, if you think about it, it’s a lot of presidents and this was the second state visit, and that’s the first, and maybe that’s going to be the last time’.
He also praised the Royal Family saying how Charles III has ‘epitomised the fortitude, nobility and the spirit of the British Monarchy and the British people’. Additionally, he praised the heir to the throne and said he was happy to see Catherine looking ‘radiant’ and ‘beautiful’.
A special cocktail was designed to celebrate the banquet, taking a twist on the Whisky Sour. It blends Johnnie Walker Black with marmalade. It is topped with a pecan foam and toasted marshmallow set on a star-shaped biscuit to mimic the warmth of S’mores.
The tradition of a bespoke cocktail for each state banquet was introduced by The King.
Sounds like it’s time for a cocktail!👂📣
To be served at this evening’s State Banquet, a special US-UK cocktail has been created, blending smoky whisky with the bright citrus of marmalade. 🍹
Crowned with a pecan foam and garnished with a toasted marshmallow set on a… pic.twitter.com/YtBvZDw3tT
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 17, 2025
Tonight’s menu consisted of Hampshire watercress panna cotta with parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad for starters, followed by organic Norfolk chicken ballotine wrapped in courgettes, with a thyme and savoury infused jus for main. Dessert consisted of vanilla ice cream bombe with Kentish raspberry sorbet interior with lightly poached Victoria pums.
After dinner, guests were treated to Warre’s 1945 Vintage Port, in tribute to Trump as the 45th, as well as the 47th, President of the United States; Hennessy 1912 Cognac Grande Champagne, from the year that the President’s mother was born; Bowmore Queen’s Cask 1980, Islay, a gift to the late Elizabeth II in 1980, which was bottled for her Golden Jubilee in 2002.
The flowers featured on the table included handpicked seasonal flowers and herbs from the gardens at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and The Savill Garden in Windsor Great Park.
