President Donald Trump attended a state dinner hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, describing the occasion as “one of the highest honors of my life.”
The dinner marked the president’s second state visit to the United Kingdom, following his 2019 banquet at Buckingham Palace with the late Queen Elizabeth II, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
U.S. President Donald Trump and the First Lady Melania Trump, alongside King Charles III and Queen Camilla. pic.twitter.com/IJB5BlD1rL [2]
— Nizam Tellawi (@nizamtellawi) September 18, 2025 [3]
Trump, 79, was seated between King Charles, 76, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, who is continuing her recovery from cancer treatment. First Lady Melania Trump, wearing a yellow Carolina Herrera gown with a lilac belt, was seated between Prince William and Queen Camilla.
“This is truly one of the highest honors of my life — such respect for you and such respect for your country,” Trump said during his remarks in St. George’s Hall.
He added with a smile that he hoped to be the “last” American president to receive two invitations to a state dinner in Britain, drawing laughter from King Charles.
.@POTUS [4] delivers remarks at the State Banquet at Windsor Castle: “This is truly one of the highest honors of my life… for many decades, His Majesty The King has epitomized the fortitude, nobility, and the spirit of the British Monarchy, and the British people.” pic.twitter.com/NhePpGOpJH [5]
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 17, 2025 [6]
The king responded by reflecting on the long-standing alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom.
“I have always admired the ingenuity of the American people and the principles of freedom, which your great democracy has represented since its inception,” Charles said.
He noted that since his first visit to the U.S. in 1970, he has maintained close ties with Americans through more than 20 visits.
Charles also referenced past speculation that former President Richard Nixon once sought to pair him with Nixon’s daughter, Tricia.
“In fact, had the media succeeded in the 1970s in their own attempt to deepen the special relationship, I myself might have been married off within the Nixon family,” the king joked.
King Charles, speaking at the state banquet, highlighted the enduring bond between the United Kingdom and the United States. With a touch of humor, he remarked that if media speculation in the 1970s had played out differently, he “might have married into the Nixon family.”#NYI [7] pic.twitter.com/iRg84wNDn3 [8]
— NewYork-i (@Newyork__i) September 17, 2025 [9]
Trump praised Charles for his decades of service, describing him as a leader who “epitomized the fortitude, nobility, and the spirit of the British monarchy and the British people.”
The president also noted that a 1993 letter written by Charles had expressed a desire “to put the ‘great’ back into Great Britain,” comparing it to his own “Make America Great Again” campaign theme.
In closing, Trump called for continued cooperation between the two nations, urging both countries to “stand for the values of the people of the English-speaking world.”
Charles emphasized the importance of unity, highlighting the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence.
He said both nations “fought together to defeat the forces of tyranny” during two world wars and added that today, “as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine.”
The event included wines and cognac chosen to reflect the birth years of Trump and his mother, who was born in Scotland. Guests included First Daughter Tiffany Trump, her husband Michael Boulos, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who sat near the president.
The evening was months in the making, with the menu and arrangements personally approved by the king and queen.