Trump UK visit: President has state banquet with Queen as Labour announces Corbyn will speak at protest
US leader an ‘egregious example of growing far-right threat’, says Sadiq Khan after Twitter spat
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Protesters have denounced Donald Trump as “frightening and dangerous” and claimed his state visit is “an invitation for his ideology to be imported” to the UK, during a dramatic first day of the US president's second state visit to the country.
During a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II greeted the president, and reminded those in attendance of the "close and longstanding friendship" between their two countries — and appeared to rebuke Mr Trump's so-called America-first ideology that has threatened once close alliances and shaken the international community.
"I am so glad that we have another opportunity to demonstrate the immense importance that both our countries attach to our relationship," the Queen said.
The itinerary for Mr Trump going forward includes meetings with business leaders, a tour of historic British buildings, and trips to Portsmouth and Normandy — with the latter coming on the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
The Queen, during her remarks, used that historic moment in the Second World War to reinforce the importance of the US-UK relationship.
"On that day — and on many occasions since — the armed forces of both our countries fought side-by-side to defend our cherished values of liberty and democracy," she said.
"As we face the new challenges of the 21st Century, the anniversary of D-Day reminds us of all that our counties have achieved together," she continued, addressing the kinds of international coooperation in the post war years that Mr Trump appears to have disregarded as president. "After the shared sacrifices of the Second World War, Britain and the United States worked with other allies to build an assembly of international institutions to ensure that the horrors of conflict would never be repeated."
But, nearby in London, protesters denounced the president who had lashed out at mayor Sadiq Khaan as his trip loomed.
“It’s one thing to tolerate it, it is something else to promote it,” 46-year-old Hada Moreno told The Independent outside Buckingham Palace of Mr Trump's ideological stance.
But the US president’s backers were also present, calling him “a hero”. One said: “After Brexit we will need him for trade as well as security.” It came after Mr Trump lashed out at London’s mayor on Twitter, branding him “terrible” and a “stone-cold loser”.
Mr Trump and his wife Melania dined with the Queen at Buckingham Palace. The pair were met by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and will also take a tour of Westminster Abbey. Observers were curious as to how the Prince of Wales, a keen environmentalist, would get along with the fossil fuel-loving president.
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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed he will speak at a demonstration against Mr Trump's state visit as the US president holds talks with Theresa May.
Donald Trump was apparently left scratching his head when asked if he recognised a statue of a horse at Buckingham Palace - not realising it was his gift to the Queen.
Britain's head of state took the president and First Lady Melania Trump around an exhibition of American artefacts, items reflecting Mr Trump's Scottish heritage and love of golf, and documents and photos relating to royal visits to the US.
But when they came across a thoroughbred in polished pewter, the US leader did not know the artwork was his gift to the Queen when they met in July last year - yet Mrs Trump did.
The Queen led the Trumps around the exhibition in the palace's picture gallery after hosting a private lunch for them attended by the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke of Sussex, Duke of York and members of the Queen's household and president's entourage.
Tim Knox, director of the Royal Collection who joined the Queen during the tour, said Mr Trump gave the monarch the horse when he had tea with her at Windsor Castle.
He added that when Mr Trump was asked if he recognised it, he said "no" but "the First Lady did recognise it, which is rather nice".
Mr Knox joked: "But one horse looks very much like another."
The Queen's official gifts to Mr Trump were a first edition of The Second World War by Winston S Churchill from 1959.
The crimson book features gold tooled decoration on the cover, spine and inner cover, an EIIR cypher in gold on the front, silk endpapers and hand-sewn headbands in the colours of the US flag with all pages edged in gilt.
The monarch also gave Mr Trump a three-piece Duofold pen set - a fountain pen, rollerball pen and ballpoint pen with EIIR cypher - using the obsidian design, exclusively made for the Queen.
Mrs Trump was presented with a specially commissioned silver box with a handcrafted enamel lid.
Harry will almost certainly have met Mr Trump before the lunch and the moment is likely to have been an awkward one for the duke following the president's alleged comment about his wife Meghan - which Mr Trump has denied.
He has tweeted he did not call the American actress - who has described the president as a "misogynist" - "nasty", claiming it was down to the “fake news media”.
Prince Charles jokes in front of Donald Trump at Clarence House
The US president has claimed to have seen "tremendous crowds of wellwishers" and people that love America during his trip to Britain.
He tweeted: "The relationship with the United Kingdom is very strong. Tremendous crowds of well wishers and people that love our Country."
And he denied having seen any protests. Haven’t seen any protests yet, but I’m sure the Fake News will be working hard to find them. Great love all around."
Mr Trump also claimed talks on a trade deal between the US and UK had begun already.
The president has arrived back at Buckingham Palace in Marine One for the state banquet, where both he and the Queen will make speeches.
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