Britain has staged its largest ever welcome for a US president and nearly half of the nation didn’t want it to go ahead.
Forty five per cent of Britons said “it was wrong to issue the invitation” when polled by YouGov on September 14 and 15.
But the public has no say, and on Wednesday Trump’s second state visit went ahead. About 120 horses and 1,300 members of the British military lined Windsor Castle in a pageant of unmatched scale for such an occasion.
As the King greeted the president, gun salutes of 41 rounds were fired. At the same time, a salute was staged at the Tower of London, while just miles away in Portland Place, demonstrators from as many as 50 protest groups began gathering.
More than 1,600 officers were expected to be deployed, including 500 officers assisting from other forces, the Metropolitan police said.
Meanwhile Windsor, usually a quiet town, drew both supporters and demonstrators. Many Trump backers were frustrated at being kept behind barriers.
“I think it’s an absolute sham that he’s put behind a fortress, because of the few people that don’t like him,” said Diane Clarke, 52, a teaching assistant.
Seven in ten Britons think that “it is important that the British government maintains positive relations with Donald Trump”. However, separate figures showed scepticism, with only 26 per cent saying they think the state visit will result in any improvement.
Trump mainly draws his backing from Reform and Conservative voters, a YouGov poll from July showed. Seventy per cent of Reform and 56 per cent of Conservatives supporters said they approved of the visit.
But despite the political divisions, fashion united public attention. Inside Windsor’s gates, the Royals used colour to send subtle messages. The Queen wore a blue dress, while the Princess of Wales appeared in burgundy. Royal watchers noted that together the red-and-blue palette echoed the American flag.
“This seems a clear example of coordinated diplomatic dressing to me, to reflect the US flag,” Victoria Murphy, a royal expert, told the BBC. “It’s an example of how the outfits can send a powerful diplomatic message.”
Meanwhile, First Lady Melania Trump returned to a familiar fashion statement – a wide-brimmed hat that obscured her eyes. Stylists suggested the choice was a way of drawing attention away from herself and onto her husband.
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