President Donald Trump praised ‘radiant’ and ‘healthy’ Princess Kate as he delivered a toast Wednesday night to King Charles at a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle.
The president of the United States found himself sandwiched between the king and Kate Middleton, while First Lady Melania Trump and Queen Camilla sat across from their husbands.
He spoke highly of both royals.
‘I tell you I just stood in line and shook about 150 hands, and the king knew every single person and every single company,’ Trump said. ‘And some of them had bad names like XYZ-Q3. And he knew every one of them.’
‘Or at least I think he did, because nobody was complaining,’ Trump said to laughs. ‘I was very impressed with that.’
On a more serious note, Trump said the unprecedented second state dinner he was receiving from the British royal family was ‘one of the highest honors of my life.’
‘Such respect for you and such respect for your country,’ Trump told the king. ‘For many decades, his majesty the king has epitomized the fortitude, nobility and the spirit of the British monarchy and the British people.’
Trump said Charles had ‘dedicated himself to preserving the glory and unique character of this kingdom’ and gave a hat-tip to the king’s environmental work.
President Donald Trump (center) delivered a toast where he gushed over King Charles (right) and told Princess Kate (left) that she was ‘so radiant and so healthy and so beautiful’ after her cancer scare
President Donald Trump (center) greets Princess Kate (left) as she arrives for the state banquet at Windsor Castle Wednesday night
The president also acknowledged Charles’ work as a father, telling him he’s raised a ‘remarkable son.’
Trump told Prince William, who was seated across the grand table, that ‘we’ve gotten to know you’ and the future king will have an ‘unbelievable success in the future.’
‘Melania and I are delighted to visit again with Prince William and to see Her Royal Highness, Princess Catherine, so radiant and so healthy and so beautiful,’ Trump said.
The princess is now in remission after being treated with chemotherapy for cancer.
The president gave a nod to Camilla at the end of his speech, too.
‘On behalf of all Americans, I offer a toast to one of the great friendships. To two great countries and to His Majesty, King Charles III, a very, very special man and also a very, very special queen,’ Trump said.
At the top of his remarks, Trump relished how he was the first American president to get a second state from the British monarchy.
His first took place in 2019 with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
Princess Kate wowed in a gold lace dress at Wednesday’s state banquet for President Donald Trump at Windsor Palace
Tiffany Trump (left) walks to her seat alongside Apple’s Tim Cook (upper center left) as her husband Michael (center) sits next to Princess Kate
Princess Kate (right) and Prince William (center) arrive at Wednesday night’s state banquet at Windsor Castle followed by Tiffany Trump (second from left) and her husband Michael Boulos (left)
‘It’s a lot of presidents,’ Trump commented. ‘And this was the second state visit – and that’s the first – and maybe that’s going to be the last time.’
‘I hope it is actually,’ the president said to laughs.
For the second visit, the palace made sure Trump was treated to even grander displays of pomp – a carriage ride, two musical military demonstrations and a red, white and blue flyover.
Both Kate and Melania Trump wore dresses with gold tones, with the first lady sporting an off-shoulder yellow gown with sleeves and a pink belt.
Kate opted for a gold lace gown and spectacular crown, paired with a royal blue sash.
The only one of Trump’s children to travel with him on the U.K. trip was Tiffany Trump, who sported an off-shoulder midnight blue gown.
Camilla also sported a bold blue.
Tiffany was seated next to Apple’s Tim Cook – as the number of tech titans invited to the dinner displayed Trump’s newfound popularity in Silicon Valley.
President Donald Trump (center right) attended a state banquet at Windsor Castle with First Lady Melania at his side (right) hosted by King Charles (center left) and Queen Camilla (left)
Prince William (left) and Kate Middleton (right) pose for a photo ahead of Wednesday night’s banquet for President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Windsor Castle
Also invited – Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI’s Sam Altman.
Tiffany brought along her husband, Michael Boulos, who was cut from the guest list during the 2019 state dinner at Buckingham Palace as the couple hadn’t gotten married yet.
Despite Trump expressing his displeasure with some of the tycoon’s media companies, Rupert Murdoch snagged an invite – along with his wife Elena.
The founder of Newsmax, Christopher Ruddy, was also on hand.
On the menu Wednesday night: Hampshire watercress panna cotta with parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, organic Norfolk chicken ballotine wrapped in courgettes with a thyme and savory infused jus, and vanilla ice cream bombe with Kentish raspberry sorbet interior with lightly poached Victoria plums.
The 160 guests – invited by the White House, the British government and the palace – were seated at one large table that was 57.51 yards long.
One hundred and thirty-nine candles decorated the table with flowers brought in from the gardens of Buckingham Palace and the Saville Garden in Windsor Great Park.
