By Editor,Ellen Coughlan

Copyright dailymail

Prince William graciously pulled out a chair for Melania Trump during a glittering state banquet at Windsor Castle on Wednesday evening. The Prince of Wales, 43, made a gallant gesture that didn’t go unnoticed as he welcomed US President Donald Trump and the US First Lady to the opulent banquet hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla . In the sweet moment caught on camera, the father-of-three was seen courteously pulling out Melania’s chair and assisting her as she took her seat at the dinner table beside Queen Camilla.

The future king looked dapper in a black Windsor tailcoat, with a blue sash and star of the Order of the Garter, as well as another star denoting his position as a Knight of the Order of the Thistle, and a third representing that he is a Great Master of the Order of the Bath. He also wore four medals – one each from the late Queen Elizabeth II ‘s Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees, and the King’s coronation medal. Melania, 55, looked radiant in a floor-length, sunshine-yellow gown, which she cinched at the waist with a pink belt and accessorised with dangling blue earrings.

The state banquet guests usually include dignitaries, diplomats, and A-list celebrities, with a total of 160 in attendance on Wednesday evening. King Charles and Queen Camilla were all smiles as they hosted the high-profile banquet, which served as a symbol of unity and diplomacy between the UK and the United States. While Trump and the King swapped speeches and sat at the centre of the grand table, many eyes were on the trio of leading ladies.

The Princess of Wales, 43, was a vision in a couture gown by British designer Phillipa Lepley, over which she sported a full-length, hand-embroidered gold chantilly lace evening coat. She also wore earrings belonging to the late Queen and her favourite Lover’s Knot tiara. Queen Camilla, 78, sported sapphire, from her tiara to the colour of her embroidered Fiona Clare dress. Meanwhile, Melania struck a note of modern style in the off-shoulder yellow dress.

As the King stood to give his warm and witty speech, he toasted Britain’s ‘remarkable bond’ with the US. The monarch welcomed the Trump family to Windsor Castle, highlighting the two countries’ ‘unparalleled partnership’. But it also struck a serious tone, as the 76-year-old spoke of ‘tyranny once again’ threatening Europe. Trump, 79, nodded along as Charles turned to the American leader and said: ‘We and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace.’

Charles said: ‘This unique and important occasion reflects the enduring bond between our two great nations. ‘Anchored by the deep friendship between our people, this relationship which, with good reason, we are our predecessors have long called ‘special’, has made us safer and stronger through the generations. ‘Our people have fought and died together for the values we hold dear… we have celebrated together, mourned together and stood together in the best and worst of times.’

The King did not shy away from referring to the War of Independence, saying: ‘My five times Great Grandfather, King George III, for his part, did not spare his worlds when he spoke of the revolutionary leaders. ‘Today, however, we celebrate a relationship between our two countries that surely neither Washington nor King George III could have possibly imagined. The ocean may still divide us, but in so many other ways we are now the closest of kin.’ He also amusingly referred to how in the 1970s President Richard Nixon, who was said to be ‘obsessed’ with the British Royal Family, tried to arrange a marriage between him and his daughter, Tricia.

‘Had the media succeeded in the 1970s in their own attempt at deepening the special relationship, I might have been married off within the Nixon family!’ he joked. Highlighting cultural, scientific, defence, security, intelligence, military and environmental links between the UK and US, the King concluded by toasting our ‘remarkable bond’ and ‘shared commitment to independence and liberty’. Trump opened his speech by saying ‘this is truly one of the highest honours of my life’. He drew laughter from the hall as he joked that he hoped he would be the only US president to have two state visits.

He then praised the King for raising a ‘remarkable son’ in Prince William, and how Charles knew the names of all of the guests – even those ‘with bad names like XYZ-Q3’. In a speech that appeared to slightly go off-script, the President talked about the beauty of Britain – and of the King. In particular he praised his work with wounded veterans which, he said, ‘was like no-one else’. ‘This was the second state visit and that’s the first and I hope it will be the last time,’ Trump said.

‘If you think about it there’s a lot of presidents and this is the second state visit and that’s the first and maybe that’s going to be the last time. I hope it is. ‘But this is truly one of the highest honours of my life. Such respect for you and your country. ‘For many decades, His Majesty the King has epitomised the fortitude, nobility and the spirit of the British monarchy and the British people. ‘He’s dedicated himself to preserving the glory and unique character of this kingdom.’ He also praised his environment and architectural work over the years, as well as work helping the poor and wounded veterans ‘like nobody else’.

He added: ‘I just wanted to say His Majesty has raised a remarkable son in His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales. Really amazing, I have gotten to know you and I think you are going to have unbelievable success in 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, so beautiful.’ Trump also praised the ‘lion-hearted people’ of the UK. Turning back to his pre-written speech he praised Britain’s defence of freedom over the years, and of the cultural and economic legends it had produced. ‘Never been anything like it,’ he said. He went so far as to also praise the legacy of the British Empress – ‘even in a country called America’. And of the relationship between the two countries he added: ‘Special doesn’t even begin to do it justice.’

‘We are like two notes in one chord…. Each beautiful but meant to be played together,’ he said. ‘ The bond of kinship and identity between America and United Kingdom is priceless and eternal, it is irreplaceable and unbreakable. We are as a country are doing unbelievably well. ‘We had a very sick country one year ago and today I believe we are the hottest country anywhere in the world and I believe we owe much of that to you and the footing you gave us when we started.’ The US President, 79, and First Lady Melania were joined by his daughter Tiffany Trump and her business executive husband, Michael Boulos. Tiffany also accompanied her father during the first state visit in 2019, which was then attended by all of his children.