London, September 18(HS): US President Donald Trump’s three-day state visit to the United Kingdom moves into a decisive political phase today, as he prepares to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the historic Chequers estate, following a grand royal reception at Windsor Castle.

Trump and Starmer are expected to tour the Winston Churchill archives at Chequers before holding formal talks and a joint press conference. The meeting will shift the focus of the visit from ceremonial displays to substantive political dialogue between Washington and London.

The final day follows a lavish state banquet hosted last night by King Charles at Windsor Castle, where 160 high-profile guests attended. During his remarks, Trump praised the transatlantic partnership, saying, “The word special does not begin to do it justice.” The King, in his speech, equally hailed the “enduring friendship” between the two nations.

The banquet capped a day of pageantry, which included a full ceremonial welcome at Windsor, a guard of honour inspection, a Red Arrows flypast, and a royal carriage procession through the castle grounds. The First Lady, Melania Trump, joined her husband in the day’s events, which also featured a visit to St George’s Chapel.

While the pageantry highlighted the warmth of the royal reception, protests in central London underscored political divisions over Trump’s visit, with demonstrators marching near Parliament carrying placards and wearing satirical costumes. Security costs for the high-profile visit are estimated in the millions of pounds, with a heavy police presence visible at all venues.

Today’s meeting at Chequers comes against the backdrop of a shifting global landscape, with Starmer’s new government positioning itself as a key U.S. ally at a time of heightened challenges in global security, trade relations, and climate cooperation. Analysts say the discussions are likely to touch on NATO, Ukraine, and future trade prospects between the UK and the US.

President Trump and the First Lady are expected to depart the UK later tonight, concluding a visit that has ranged from royal grandeur to pivotal political engagements — underscoring both the ceremonial and strategic dimensions of the transatlantic alliance.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar