Donald Trump was given a royal master class in hospitality this week, during his unprecedented second state visit to the UK.
It was not just the red carpet that was rolled out, but also horse-drawn carriages, troops in full regalia, a banquet at Windsor Castle — and even a “fairy tale princess.”
The two-day spectacle was put on to preserve the “special relationship” that has existed between the UK and the US for generations. As always, even though it is not supposed to, politics played a crucial role.
Someone at the palace very smartly put future Queen Kate Middleton next to Trump for Thursday’s state dinner.
“Kate delivered that fairy tale princess moment again, which I think everyone needs and craves and Donald Trump wanted,” said Bethan Holt, author of “The Duchess of Cambridge: A Decade of Modern Royal Style.”
“She was seated next to Trump. And when he gave his speech, he kept talking about the queen — and kept looking at Kate … For Donald Trump, Kate is already queen!”
Indeed, after praising King Charles as “a very, very special man” and then referencing “a very, very special queen,” the president turned to look at Kate before spotting the actual queen, Camilla.
It was also interesting, Holt pointed out, that Kate wore a regal, burgundy-hued suit to greet the president, followed by a stunning gold opera coat by Brit designer Phillipa Lepley — teamed with her favorite diamond-and-pearl crown, the Lover’s Knot Tiara — for the dinner.
“Trump usually wears a red tie,” Holt, fashion director at the UK Daily Telegraph, said. “Red is obviously the big MAGA color, and he loves gold. It felt like a very calculated decision to wear gold.”
As a point of protocol, the Prince and Princess of Wales, both 43, were the first to greet the president, 79, and First Lady Melania Trump 55, as the Americans’ helicopter landed on the grounds of Windsor Castle Wednesday.
Prince William, the heir to the throne, winkingly introduced the king with “This is my dad,” before the monarch joined the president in the Irish carriage for a procession to the castle.
And in a move that showed that the Waleses are getting ready for their own future on the throne, the younger couple had a private meeting with the Trumps that was described by palace sources as “warm and friendly”.
Even though Kate and Melania Trump were dubbed “The First Ladies” on the front of the UK’s The Sun — leaving Camilla in the shade — the princess is careful to attempt not to overshadow the senior royal, Holt said.
In one very public moment on Wednesday, Camilla appeared to shoo Kate away as she spoke to Melania.
“Kate’s gold dress was a real moment on social media,” said Holt, “But in the room [St George’s Hall], it almost blended into the walls, it was very clever in terms of toeing the line and not taking attention away from Camila.”
The two women were, however, “synchronized in that very traditional way” when they wore the colors of the British flag — with Kate in her red-hued outfit and Camila in blue, when they greeted their American guests/
“Kate wants to be respectful while, the reality is, her look and fashion choices are going to garner more attention than Camila,” said Holt.
Historically, Camilla has never tried to be a fashion plate, so there is aways that slight imbalance of optics.
“Kate will always steal the limelight. She looks the part in the way the world really expects a royal woman to look.”
Hugo Vickers, author and friend of the royal family, told The Post that the visit came off exactly as the palace hoped: showing that the royal family, which has been besieged by health setbacks over the past year and a half, still knows how to “pull out all the stops” — and also securing William and Kate’s future in the world order.
“I think there is absolutely no question the whole thing was a tremendous success, certainly on the royal side. It all worked seamlessly,” Vickers said.
He noted that courtiers arranged for “lots of extra things,” including setting up a procession of carriages.
As we revealed, the special relationship will also get a boost next year, as the British Foreign Office is planning to ask William and Kate to jet over to join America’s 250th birthday celebrations, and depending on his health, Charles may join too.
Trump was first hosted in the UK by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 during his first term in office.
Traditionally, second-term presidents are not offered a state visit and have instead been invited for tea or lunch with the monarch.
In a lavish tribute to king and country at the state dinner, Trump said the word “special” does not “begin to do … justice” to the relationship between America and Britain, whose bonds are “priceless and eternal.”
The president delivered a heartfelt personal tribute to the King, saying he “epitomized the fortitude, nobility and the spirit of the British monarchy and the British people.”
Prince William, he added, was “remarkable” and he called Kate — whose cancer is now in remission — “so radiant, so healthy and so beautiful.”
Vickers noted of the state dinner, “the whole point is for the king to be as hospitable as possible. When Ronald Reagan came over, [Queen Elizabeth] was told that he liked having a shower — so she had a shower installed in his suite especially.”
And the families may even have coordinated on sending a stylistic message.
Holt noted that Melania donned an off-the-shoulder yellow gown by Carolina Herrera at the dinner while Queen Camilla wore blue — walking together, they appeared to represent the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
Meanwhile, Charles voiced support for Ukraine during the state dinner, saying, “Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace.”
Nodding along to the speech, Trump looked particularly tickled by the King’s reference to British soil making for “rather splendid golf courses.”
As always, it’s almost impossible to now see the royal family in action without thinking of who is missing: Prince Harry.
Trump has accused the estranged royal of being “whipped” by his wife, Meghan Markle, who has made it clear she is no fan of the president’s — including during his 2016 campaign, when she described him as “misogynistic” and “divisive.”
However, Trump previously told The Post he would not throw Harry out of the US over alleged visa issues.
“I don’t want to do that,” he said in February. “I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.”
And to add insult to injury, Kate hosted Melania for a Scouts event on Thursday at Harry and Markle’s former Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage which Charles made them leave. “Shady!” one palace wag told Page Six.
The state visit came just days after Harry was reunited with the king for the first time in 19 months, as they shared a private tea at Clarence House.
The renegade royal said his dad, who announced his cancer diagnosis in February 2024, was “doing great.” Harry also hopes to be able to bring Markle and their kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, back to the UK. But he has been refused official security by the British Foreign Office while visiting, leading to something of a standoff.
While making a surprise visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, Harry last week told The Guardian that over the coming year, “the focus really has to be on my dad.”
Sources told us that Harry was thrilled by the meeting and wants to focus on reconciliation above all else — although he is still estranged from his older brother William after their fallout over Markle and, as alleged in Harry’s “Spare” memoir, a physical altercation.
And Trump made no mention of Harry in his state dinner speech — although royal sources said it would have been “deeply inappropriate” for him to mention the king’s younger son.
Instead, Trump said, “I just want to say that His Majesty has also raised a remarkable son in His Royal Highness, Prince of Wales. Really amazing. We’ve gotten to know you and I think you’re going to have unbelievable success in the future.”