By Iona Cleave

Copyright yahoo

Donald Trump has declared Windsor Castle “the ultimate” royal residence over Buckingham Palace ahead of his second state visit to the UK.

Before boarding his flight, the US president described how he was “honoured” to be welcomed by his “friend” King Charles.

Mr Trump told reporters outside the White House: “They have never used Windsor Castle like this before, they use Buckingham Palace, I don’t want to say one is better than the other, but Windsor Castle is the ultimate.”

Speaking on Air Force One en route to the UK, Mr Trump said: “You’re gonna have some great pictures today. You’re gonna have the best pictures.

“It’s gonna be a beautiful event. Everyone’s looking forward to it, and we’ll just relax and have a good time. Country’s doing well, stock market, setting all sorts of records. And I think there’s never been a time like this.”

He is following in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan, who was the first US president to stay at the royal residence in 1982.

Mr Trump is scheduled to arrive at a tricky time for Sir Keir Starmer while he deals with the fallout of the sacking of Lord Mandelson, the UK ambassador to Washington.

The president hinted that he could help deliver some good news for Sir Keir.

“Basically I’m there also on trade,” he told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One, the presidential helicopter.

“They want to see if they can refine the trade deal a little bit. We made a deal, and it’s a great deal, and I’m into helping them.”

He also said the US was making trillions of dollars from tariffs but added: “They’d like to see if they could get a little bit better deal.”

But much of the trip will be about the pomp of an unprecedented second state visit.

Praising his host, King Charles, the president said: “He’s such an elegant gentleman, and he represents the country so well.”

Mr Trump and Sir Keir are expected to jointly announce economic deals worth up to $10bn (£7bn) focusing on science, nuclear power and defence technology.

One US official said: “This visit gives the president the opportunity to strengthen ties with a particularly close partner and ally, while advancing mutual economic and foreign policy interests.”

Mr Trump and Melania, the first lady, will land on Tuesday evening before staying overnight at Windsor Castle. They will then be treated to a day of pomp and pageantry with the extended Royal family.

The Government hopes the soft power of the royals will appeal to Mr Trump as it seeks closer ties with Washington in relation to defence, security and energy, having already secured a favourable tariff deal.

On Thursday, he will meet with Sir Keir at Chequers for talks and a press conference in which the Prime Minister will talking about strengthening the UK’s economic relationship with the US while deflecting attention from his Government’s recent controversies.

Mr Trump is not expected to push Sir Keir on freedom of speech – an issue of concern to the president’s allies, who have highlighted new online safety laws and the impact they could have on free expression.

However, contentious issues remain such as Sir Keir’s plan to recognise Palestinian statehood later this month.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s spokesman hit back at Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, who said that the UK’s move will make no difference.

The spokesman said: “We’ve long been clear that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people, and it’s absolutely critical in protecting the viability of the two-state solution.

“Britain made clear that inalienable right, it’s why we’ve chosen to advance our position and make it clear to Israel that they must change course.”

On Tuesday, Mr Trump deflected questions about Israel’s latest offensive in Gaza City, saying he did not know much about it yet.

“We’re going to see what happens, because I hear Hamas is trying to use the old human shield deal, and if they do that, they’re going to be in big trouble,” he said.

Israeli tanks are currently advancing into Gaza’s largest urban centre in an escalation of the nearly two-year war that Mr Trump has attempted to end.

‘Stop buying oil from Russia’

He was also asked about Ukraine, another issue expected to come up in Thursday’s meeting with the Prime Minister. The US president underscored his demand that Europe stops buying oil from Russia

He said: “He’s going to have to make a deal. Zelensky is going to have to make a deal, and Europe has to stop buying oil from Russia. Okay?

“You know, they talk, but they have to stop buying oil from Russia.”

Mr Trump is the first US president to be invited for a second state visit, and it comes at a crucial moment for the two long-standing allies, particularly after Sir Keir’s sacking of Lord Mandelson, his hand-picked ambassador to Washington.

Lord Mandelson was fired after more details emerged about his relationship with the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, a former friend of Mr Trump.