Anti-Trump protesters in central London
US President Donald Trump received a royal reception at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, but beyond the castle walls many protesters did not welcome his unprecedented second state visit.
Several thousand people marched through central London to protest his trip, which includes a lavish banquet in his honor hosted by King Charles III and a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Carrying banners reading "No to the racism, no to President Donald Trump," the crowd, organised by the Stop Trump UK coalition, headed down Regent Street on their way to Parliament.
Some carried small versions of the giant Trump baby blimp, an orange-tinted caricature of the blond-coiffed leader in a diaper, that made a big impression during his first visit in June 2019. Others carried signs reading "No to Trump, no to fascism" and "Dump Trump".
The crowd booed a counter protester who held a sign that read "We Love Trump".
London’s police force deployed 1,600 officers as they expected members of about 50 different groups that included climate, anti-racism and pro-Palestinian activists.
The number of people participating in the march was much smaller than six years ago, when Trump visited London during his first term.
Two people were arrested in Windsor — one for allegedly assaulting an emergency worker and making threats and the other on suspicion of a public order violation and assault.
On Tuesday, police arrested four people over a stunt that saw an image of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein projected on a tower at Windsor Castle, a reminder of the president’s relationship with the disgraced financier.
Still, Trump and first lady Melania took a helicopter to Windsor Castle, where they were greeted warmly by the king and enjoyed a horse-drawn carriage ride through the royal estate's massive grounds as military bands played the national anthems of the US and UK.
In a speech at the US state visit banquet, King Charles commended President Trump's personal commitment to "finding solutions to some of the world's most intractable conflicts", as he called for US support for Ukraine against "tyranny".
President Trump in response hailed the special relationship between the US and the UK, saying the word "special does not begin to do it justice".
The King's speech, at a lavish dinner for 160 guests in Windsor Castle, emphasised the deep connections between the two countries and the need to maintain cultural, trading and military links.
The state visit will continue on Thursday, including Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales at events with the First Lady Melania Trump.
It will move from a royal spectacle to political talks and a news conference, as Trump travels to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his country house, Chequers.
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