Donald and Melania Trump arrive in the UK for a Windsor Castle stay

The former U.S. President and First Lady touched down in Britain and traveled straight to Windsor Castle, where they stayed the night after disembarking Air Force One. At the top of the aircraft stairs, Donald Trump exchanged a brief remark with Melania that a professional lip reader later described as a comment on the chill and the slippery steps.

Invitation from King Charles amid cool transatlantic ties

Donald and Melania Trump are visiting the UK following an official invitation extended earlier this year by King Charles. With U.S.–UK relations not at their warmest, the Royal Family once again assumes a soft-power role, hoping to reinforce the diplomatic bond between the two allies.

The invite—delivered in July by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during an Oval Office call—was confirmed on the Royal Family’s social channels alongside a throwback image from the 2019 state visit:

“His Majesty The King will host The President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump, accompanied by the First Lady, Melania Trump, for a state visit to the UK.”

The announcement prompted debate, with many criticizing the decision to host Trump at Windsor.

Protests outside Windsor and a tense arrival

Demonstrations formed outside Windsor Castle on Tuesday evening. Police arrested four men after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected onto the castle walls.

Upon landing, the Trumps were greeted by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, U.S. Ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens, and Viscount Hood, the King’s lord-in-waiting. According to a lip reader speaking to the Express, the initial exchanges on the tarmac were largely pleasantries, including a quick check about the route to Windsor.

Before that, though, the lip reader picked up a brief exchange between Donald and Melania at the doorway of Air Force One. Stepping into the breeze, Trump appeared to remark on the weather and the slick steps:

“Ooh, it’s cold. I’m glad we’re wearing our coats,”

followed by a caution to his wife:

“Ooh, careful.”

Ceremony at Windsor—and no formal London program

On Wednesday, the former president will receive a formal welcome at Windsor, including a royal salute fired simultaneously from the east lawn of Windsor Castle and from the Tower of London. The itinerary then shifts to a carriage ride through the Windsor estate with King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Catherine, Princess of Wales.

Although the couple has flown into London, there are no formal engagements scheduled in the capital during this visit; the focus remains on the Windsor program and time with the Royal Family.

Why the symbolism matters

Beyond the pageantry, the stop at Windsor underscores the monarchy’s role in continuity and diplomacy. State-level hospitality can help steady relationships during politically sensitive periods, and the optics of a carriage procession and salute provide a carefully managed backdrop for quieter conversations.

What people are talking about

Public reaction remains polarized. Critics point to the invitation as an unnecessary endorsement; supporters frame it as a pragmatic step to maintain vital ties. The airport moment—Trump’s brief comments to Melania captured by a lip reader—added a small human detail to an otherwise choreographed arrival, while protests outside the castle highlighted the charged atmosphere surrounding the visit.

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