The Spectacle of Politics: The UK–US Visit
King Charles III and his consort, Queen Camilla, sitting on a platform with President Donald J. Trump, observing the Old Fife Regiment, courtesy of Getty Images.
When the American presidential motorcade rode into the grounds of Windsor Castle early on September 17, the scene was set for a spectacle seldom witnessed in modern Anglo-American diplomacy. King Charles III and his consort, Queen Camilla, awaited President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on the East Lawn, greeted by a Royal Salute fired from Windsor and the Tower of London, before the pair processed through the estate behind a carriage flanked by the monarch’s mounted guards. From that opening ceremony, the Windsor portion of the state visit unfolded as a demonstration of the tradition and soft power of the monarchy, even as undercurrents of political controversy occurred just beyond Windsor’s stately walls.
The schedule of events at Windsor was structured to a tee, with a carriage procession, guard of honour, and a tour of the Royal Collection featuring Anglo-American objects. The highlight of the day, however, was the grand state Banquet in St. George’s Hall. The mass of guests included prominent businessmen, politicians, and members of King Charles’ court. Seating placed President Trump between the British monarch and Cathrine, Princess of Wales, flanked by senior U.S. and U.K. dignitaries. At the banquet’s opening, King Charles described the US–UK partnership as one of ‘unshakable trust’ but issued gentle reminders that such a relationship is larger than any single leader or administration. His emphasis on shared struggle, particularly with additional references to wartime solidarity, was carefully chosen to reaffirm Britain’s expectation that the United States would remain a committed ally in an era of shifting global alignments.
President Trump’s speech, by contrast, although more performative, was equally political in its framing. By referring to the alliance as ‘priceless,’ he sought to reassure both domestic and international audiences that, despite his often skeptical tone toward NATO and multilateralism, the U.S. remains committed. This balancing act, lavishing praise on King Charles and the royal family, while emphasizing ‘eternal’ ties, was designed to blunt European fears that Washington’s policy might drift toward isolationism. Taken together, the speeches projected that night formed a unified image rare in modern times.
Windsor delivered everything a state visit ceremony is supposed to: it was ritualized pageantry and curated important diplomatic symbolism. This welcome was a form of toolbox diplomacy: an appeal to soft power that projects stability in an already fractious political world. That’s at least what it appeared like. In reality, heightened security and visible public dissent were visible throughout the course of the state visit. Thames Valley Police conducted one of its largest drone and airspace operations in recent memory, establishing temporary no-fly zones around Windsor. That precaution responded to plainly visible protest plans and to real attempts to breach restrictions: multiple arrests were reported for drone flights and for projected images shown on the castle. The substantial protests in London and around Windsor included organized marches by the Stop Trump Coalition, Amnesty International-affiliated groups, and pro-Palestine activists gathered in thousands in central London, where, additionally, projection campaigns were staged to shame and force uncomfortable visual associations into the ceremonial frame. Authorities arrested several demonstrators connected with unauthorized projections of images linking the President to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
After Windsor’s ceremony came Chequers, the British prime minister’s country house and the setting for the sober, workhorse part of the visit. There, the political weight of the visit came into a sharper focus with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Trump using both their private talks and press conference to project unity while also managing differences. The centerpiece was the announcement of the £150 billion Technology Prosperity Deal, framed as a historic infusion of U.S. investment in British innovation sectors like nuclear power and quantum computing, allowing Starmer to highlight job creation and regional development at home, while signaling the U.K.’s ambitions to remain competitive in the global tech race. Both leaders repeatedly invoked the relationship between the two countries as a foundation for prosperity, with Starmer declaring at the press conference that the agreement showed how ‘American capital and British ingenuity, when combined, are a powerful force for jobs and growth in both our countries.’
(From left to right) First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald J. Trump, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Victoria Starmer outside of Chequers. Source: BBC.
Yet, their remarks also revealed subtle divergences: Trump expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but hesitated to outline a clear strategy on Ukraine, while Starmer struck a firmer note of solidarity with Ukraine. Regarding Palestine, Starmer reiterated his government’s intention to recognize statehood under certain conditions, a position Trump openly disagreed with but chose not to delve into. Overall, the negotiation was largely economic, which allowed the leaders to avoid any disagreements on foreign policy from overshadowing the optics of cooperation. Starmer secured tangible political capital through investment pledges, and Trump presented himself as a dealmaker who still values the traditional alliance. In this sense, the visit, which was part-theater and part-statecraft, offered a snapshot of how Britain and the United States are attempting to recalibrate their alliance in a volatile global era. The state visit signaled a shift in the special relationship between the two countries, moving beyond shared history and toward a future-oriented cooperation in technology and defence. If the Technology Prosperity Deal is sustained, the visit could mark the start of a new era in Anglo-American relations, one that is defined by joint leadership in the industries and transatlantic security frameworks of the twenty-first century.