Forget bilateral meetings and photo ops at Downing Street: When it comes to navigating an uncommonly turbulent era in the Special Relationship, the U.K. government’s most powerful diplomatic tool may be sparkly and worn on somebody royal’s head.
We refer, of course, to the epic demonstration of “tiara diplomacy” — that is, wheeling out the royals in full Beribboned and Bejewelled mode — the world is being treated to as Britain welcomes Donald Trump for his second state visit to the island nation.
Technically, it was the King who signed the Trumps’ invitation to England, although, as with all state visits, it’s at the behest of the government, not the royals’ whim. It was hand-delivered by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer when he met with the U.S. president in Washington earlier this year. Trump said yes on the spot.
That’s why the Royal Family is front-and-centre when it comes to hosting duties, flexing all the soft power at their disposal (and, perhaps, reminding the British public why they’re worth keeping on.)
Here’s everything you need to know about how the royals are rolling out the red carpet for Trump this week.
Tiara diplomacy was in full force at the state banquet
Putting the actual tiara in Tiara Diplomacy, the public centrepiece of this visit is the state banquet on Wednesday evening. Always an occasion when the royals dial the pomp and circumstance up to 11, it’s also a chance for them to raid the family jewel box and, if they’re a woman, wear a tiara.
This evening’s State banquet is complete with a table-setting so elaborate it reportedly takes staff three days to set up. The menu features Ballotine de Poulet Fermier en Robe de Courgettes (that’s chicken wrapped in zucchini to the rest of us) and a whisky sour cocktail garnished with a marshmallow as a nod to the American love of S’mores. While Trump doesn’t drink, they’re also serving a cognac bottled in the year his mother was born, as a nod to his Scottish roots.
For the dinner, the Princess of Wales wore her go-to tiara, the pearl-forward Cambridge Lover’s Knot, and a new gold lace dress by Phillipa Lepley, a couture wedding dress designer she’d previously tapped for a blue evening gown in 2022.
President Trump and King Charles entered the banquet chatting animatedly, flanked by their wives. Melania wore a bright yellow off-the-shoulder column dress with a lilac belt by Carolina Herrera, a New York-based brand founded by a Venezuelan-American designer in 1981.
Queen Camilla wore an evening gown by Fiona Clare, one of her stalwart designers, with a repeat wear of the Belgian Sapphire Tiara she wore to the state banquet for South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa in 2022.
William and Kate were tapped to be the welcome party
The Prince and Princess of Wales have been front and centre in this visit, having greeted Donald and Melania Trump when they arrived in Windsor on Wednesday morning.
William and Kate, who wore a burgundy coat dress by British fashion designer Emilia Wickstead, a Chanel bag and a brooch that belonged to Princess Diana, were waiting to greet the Trumps when their helicopter landed on the lawn at Windsor Castle. There was a round of warm handshakes, before they escorted the American couple to meet the King and Queen, who is back on duty after a bout of sinusitis.
There was a ceremonial exchange of gifts: Trump was given the flag that flew over Buckingham Palace on his second inauguration day, among other items. Melania, who wore a grey Dior skirt suit and a purple hat, received a handbag by British designer Anya Hindmarch. In return, they gave King Charles a replica of President Eisenhower’s sword, while Queen Camilla received ruby and diamond brooch by Tiffany & Co.
Thanks to the typically wet British weather, the carriage procession that followed was done in covered vehicles — denying the public a chance to see Trump and the King (whom he yesterday described as “my friend”) in conversation together.
According to Trump, he and William had a “great” conversation when they met privately after a Notre Dame event, while Kate was also present at the banquet held for the last state dinner, too.
The prince and princess’ prominent role in this visit is being interpreted as a sign of the couple’s steadily growing importance within the family.
Kate and Melania are doing a joint engagement
In one of the more interesting items on the itinerary, the Princess of Wales and the first lady will be spending official time together on Thursday. On the grounds of Windsor Castle, they’re hosting an event for The Scouts that celebrates time spent in nature, something Kate has become a big advocate for. Earlier in the day, Queen Camilla is going to give Melania a tour of the library at Windsor Castle, plus a look at the famous Queen Mary’s Doll House.
Trump has long had a fascination with the Royal Family
Like Teresa May before him, who invited Trump for his first state visit within days of starting his first term, Keir Starmer knows that the U.S. president is a big royal fan. “She is so sharp, so wise, so beautiful,” Trump said to Piers Morgan of the late queen in 2018. (He was similarly complimentary about Prince William, saying after he met him at the reopening of Notre Dame last year that “he’s a good-looking guy.”)
His royal fascination seems to come from his Scottish-born mother, although in “The Art of The Deal,” he relayed his father’s opinion that the royals are “all a bunch of con artists.” For his part, Trump has met members of the Royal Family several times: Charles had tea back at Mar-a-Lago in the late 1980s, and apparently the two men still correspond, with The Telegraph even claiming they’re “pretty close.” Trump also claims to have met Princess Diana “a number of times,” writing in “The Art of the Comeback” that “I couldn’t help but notice how she moved people. She lit up the room with her charm, her presence. She was a genuine princess — a dream lady.” His 2019 state visit — the last Queen Elizabeth II ever hosted — seems to have been one of the highlights of his first term, although according to biographer Craig Brown the late queen actually found him “very rude.”
Another sign of his reverence for the queen? Trump will be placing a wreath on her tomb in St. George’s Chapel during this visit.
