US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are poised for a distinctive welcome from the Prince and Princess of Wales within the Walled Garden on the Windsor estate.
In a unique move, part of several special flourishes for the controversial American leader’s second state visit, President Trump’s Marine One helicopter is scheduled to land directly on the garden’s lawn, nestled in the private Home Park, shortly at 11.55am.
Prince William and Catherine will greet the Trumps upon disembarkation, accompanying them a short distance to meet the King and Queen.
This initial encounter will occur outside the lesser-known Victoria House, officially launching the historic trip.
The selection of Victoria House, located in the Royal Kitchen Gardens at Frogmore, as the backdrop for this major royal charm offensive, aims to provide a personal, family-centred greeting for the president. This welcome also notably embraces the pomp, pageantry, and military theatrics Mr Trump is known to adore.
As the president shakes hands with the King at midday, a 41-round gun salute will be fired from six First World War era guns simultaneously by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle, while the Honourable Artillery Company stages a salute more than 20 miles away at the Tower of London.
The scale and spectacle of the military ceremonial on show for Mr Trump is unprecedented and marks the largest military ceremonial welcome for a state visit to the UK in living memory.
In total, around 120 horses and 1,300 members of the British military will be involved in the ceremonial welcome at Windsor, with 160 personnel from the Royal Marines and Royal Navy, 1,000 from the British Army and 140 from the Royal Air Force.
The Trumps are joining the King and Queen and William and Kate for a carriage procession through the Windsor estate towards the Castle.
Windsor Castle mapped:
Eighty soldiers from the House Cavalry Mounted Regiment will form the Sovereign’s Escort travelling with the carriages, with the Life Guards dressed in their red tunics and white plumed helmets and Blues and Royals in their blue tunics and red plumes.
The processional route, which will not be open to the public, will be lined by 22 half-companies of personnel from throughout the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force.
As they make their way to the castle, the Trumps are expected to pass not far from Frogmore House, where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had their evening wedding reception, and also close to Frogmore Cottage, briefly home to Harry and Meghan before they quit the working monarchy and moved to America.
The carriages are scheduled to pass through the castle’s George IV Gate at 12.15pm, ready for the full ceremonial welcome in the quadrangle with a Guard of Honour.
