US President Donald Trump has arrived at Chequers, the country residence of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for bilateral talks and a joint press conference later today.
The visit comes after a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle, where Trump praised the event as one of the “highest honours” of his life. King Charles returned the compliment, calling the president a man committed to tackling global challenges.
Earlier, Trump said goodbye to the King at Windsor before flying to Chequers in Marine One. He was greeted by Starmer and his wife Victoria, with bagpipes marking the ceremonial welcome.
What’s Happened So Far
Royal Banquet: Trump dined with the royal family last night, with speeches highlighting the “special relationship” between the US and UK.
Farewell at Windsor: The King and Trump exchanged warm words before the president’s departure this morning.
Arrival at Chequers: Greeted by Starmer and Lady Starmer, Trump stepped out of his motorcade for the official welcome before heading inside for talks.
First Lady’s Engagements: Melania Trump joined Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales in Windsor, sharing honey with local schoolchildren as part of a nature project and exploring Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House.
What’s Next
Trump and Starmer are holding one-on-one discussions inside Chequers, including a tour of the Winston Churchill archives.
They’ll later attend a business reception hosted by the UK Chancellor.
The key moment will be a joint press conference this afternoon — seen as the riskiest part of the visit, with sensitive issues like Ukraine, Gaza, and trade likely to come up.
A Day of Contrasts
So far, the carefully staged state visit has gone smoothly. The pageantry of Windsor has given way to the political challenges of Chequers. Analysts say today could test whether the warmth of the royal welcome will carry over into the tougher negotiations with the prime minister.