Trump boards Air Force One back to the US after hailing ‘special relationship’ with Britain as historic state visit draws to a close: RECAP

Thank you for following our coverage on Donald Trump’s final day of his state visit.

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Donald Trump has extraordinarily claimed that he blocked Sir Sadiq Khan from attending any of the events for his state visit.

Trump said Sir Sadiq ‘wanted to be there’ but ‘I didn’t want him’ in a scathing attack in which he dubbed him one of the worst mayors in the world.

The American leader, 79, said: ‘I think the mayor of London Khan is among the worst mayors in the world, and we have some bad ones.

‘He wanted to be there. As I understand it, I didn’t want it. I’ve not liked him for a long time.’

Donald Trump told Keir Starmer to call in the military to stop the boats – or risk Britain being ‘destroyed from within’ by illegal immigration.

The US President, whose harsh border controls have slashed illegal migration to near zero, said the UK was now facing a ‘very similar’ problem in the Channel and had to take much tougher action.

At a joint press conference with the Prime Minister at Chequers, Mr Trump hailed the ‘incredible bond’ between Britain and the US – and spoke at length about his love for ‘these beautiful isles’.

Donald Trump’s Marine One helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing before the US President arrived at Stansted Airport earlier today.

The presidential chopper suffered a hydraulic issue on its way from Chequers.

Mr Trump, who had been visiting the UK for a historic second state visit, arrived at his destination 20 minutes behind schedule.

It is understood that the helicopter landed at Luton Airport – where the President and First Lady were transferred onto a second ‘support’ chopper.

Donald Trump has told Fox News he thinks Sir Keir Starmer is ‘a very fine guy’.

In an interview recorded earlier today at Chequers before the US President departed the UK, Trump told the PM to ‘take a very strong stand on immigration’ and warned that it was ‘really hurting him badly’.

Trump’s aides have given a sneak peek behind the scenes of the US President’s visit to the UK.

PM Sir Keir Starmer will feel like he has come off rather well during his press conference with Trump, writes our political editor James Tapsfield.

By normal diplomatic standards, that was a press conference stuffed with open disagreement and stinging jibes.

But it says a lot about Donald Trump’s extraordinary brand of confrontational politics that Keir Starmer will feel like he has come off rather well.

Yes, the president told him to deploy the military to stop Channel boats. Yes, he dismissed the UK’s plan to recognise Palestine, urged more drilling in the North Sea, and took a potshot over free speech.

However, the barbs were almost accidental, and none of them were fatal. Mr Trump was undoubtedly doing his best to ‘play nice’.

After a disastrous few weeks for the PM, Downing Street will count that as a much-needed win, with the Special Relationship still on track.

The question now is can Sir Keir use that hint of momentum to stabilise his teetering government, and start clawing back Nigel Farage’s huge poll advantage?

The US President has boarded Air Force One at Stansted Airport.

Trump will now head back to the US, with his departure bringing his unprecedented second state visit to a close.

President Trump and First Lady Melania have both now left Chequers, bringing the US leader’s second state visit to an end.

Mr Trump briefly raised a clenched fist as he stood at the door of Chequers alongside Sir Keir Starmer and their wives, Melania and Victoria, while two RAF pipers played Scotland The Brave.

He then shook hands with the Prime Minister before being driven to his waiting Marine One helicopter.

Trump will now be flown to Stansted Airport where he will board Air Force One and head back to America.

Donald and Melania Trump have now boarded Marine One as they travel to London Stansted.

The President and First Lady will then hop on to Air Force One before returning to Washington.

Donald Trump is departing from Chequers as his unprecedented second UK State Visit draws to a close.

The President will head down to London Stansted before boarding Air Force One to Joint Base Andrews in Washington.

Daily Mail columnist Dan Hodges has suggested Keir Starmer ‘won’t believe his luck’ after he was fielded just one question on Jeffrey Epstein.

The Prime Minister was potentially facing an awkward moment in the press conference over questions regarding Epstein and the former US ambassador Peter Mandelson.

But after Trump handed the question about the ‘elephant in the room’ over to Starmer, he repeated his previous claims that Mandelson was sacked when new information came to light.

Donald Trump urged Keir Starmer to deploy the military to stop the Channel boats crisis ‘destroying’ Britain today.

At a joint press conference, the US president warned that illegal immigration ‘destroys countries from within’ – as he highlighted his own success in securing the border.

Mr Trump also bluntly stated that he ‘disagreed’ with Sir Keir’s plan to recognise a Palestinian state, urged the UK to do more drilling in the North Sea, and pointedly hailed the ‘traditions of British liberty’.

The interventions came as the leaders wrapped up a State Visit with the PM hailing the ‘renewed’ Special Relationship and his ‘friendship’ with Mr Trump.

Speaking at Chequers, Sir Keir insisted that Vladimir Putin’s strikes on Ukraine were ‘not the actions of someone who wants peace’.

Read the full story by UK Political Editor JamesTapsfield here:

Donald Trump claimed Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show was suspended because he ‘is not a talented person and had bad ratings’.

Broadcaster ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from schedules after his comments about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The late-night comic made several remarks about the reaction to the assassination last week on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, including that ‘many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalise on the murder of Charlie Kirk’.

Mr Trump told the Chequers press conference: ‘Well, Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings, more than anything else.’

Trump and Putin met in Alaska last month

Donald Trump has said he does not regret meeting Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Asked whether it was a mistake to invite the Russian president to Alaska and if he regrets it, Mr Trump replied: ‘No.’

Very simply, if the price of oil comes down, Putin is going to drop out. He’s going to have no choice, he’s going to drop out of that war.

There are a number of European countries which are too reliant on energy from Russia, the UK actually, obviously, has almost got nothing at all, but we do need to bear down and work with our European counterparts here.

There are one or two countries, I think, that do need to look again at the question of energy.

Donald Trump said ‘I don’t know him’ when asked at a press conference whether he had sympathy with former UK ambassador to the US Lord Peter Mandelson for being sacked over historic links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

I don’t know him actually, I had heard that, and I think maybe the Prime Minister would be better speaking of that. It was a choice that he made and I don’t know.

Speaking directly to Keir Starmer, Trump said: ‘What is your answer to that?’

The Prime Minister replied:

It’s very straightforward. Some information came to light last week which wasn’t available when he was appointed, and I made a decision about it, and that’s very clear.

Keir Starmer has insisted his decision to recognise Palestinian statehood had nothing to do with Donald Trump’s state visit.

Asked by journalists about the timing of his plan for recognition, the Prime Minister said:

On the question of recognition, I made my position clear at the end of July, so the timing, it’s got nothing to do with this state visit.

I’ve discussed it with the President, as you would expect, amongst two leaders who respect each other and like each other, and want to bring about a better solution in the best way that we can.

Mr Trump described the October 7 attacks on Israel as ‘one of the worst days in the history of humanity’ when asked whether he would call on Benjamin Netanyahu to end his ground offensive in Gaza.

The US president insisted he wanted to see the hostages returned, and not in a ‘piecemeal’ fashion.

Keir Starmer has insisted free speech will be protected ‘jealously and fiercely’ during a question from GB News.

The Prime Minister said free speech has ‘long lived in the country’ and is ‘one of the founding values of the United Kingdom’.

But he stressed he draws a ‘limit between free speech and the speech of those who want to peddle paedophilia and suicide.’

He added: ‘I’m also for protecting children from things that will harm them’.

Donald Trump said wind power is a ‘very expensive joke’ and the North Sea is ‘phenomenal’ after Keir Starmer spoke of the importance of renewable energy.

Asked whether he thought his approach to renewable energy was right and the President’s ‘drill, baby, drill’ mantra was wrong, the Prime Minister said:

Firstly, let me be really clear that I am absolutely determined to ensure that the price and cost of energy comes down so the bills come down, both for individuals, for families with their household bills, but also for business.

Because this is so important, the mix will include oil and gas for many years to come from the North Sea. We have been clear about that for some time, but we also need to mix that with renewables.

Donald Trump has suggested Keir Starmer should take a tougher line on tackling the migrants crisis, possibly including military involvement.

Setting out his own actions in the US, Trump said:

What I saw happening, with millions of people pouring into our country, I couldn’t stand to watch it, and we’ve done a great job.

He said ‘the last three months we had zero – from millions of people a year ago, we had zero people enter our country illegally’.

Speaking alongside Sir Keir, he said:

I think your situation is very similar. You have people coming in and I told the Prime Minister I would stop it, and it doesn’t matter if you call out the military, it doesn’t matter what means you use.

It destroys countries from within and we’re actually now removing a lot of the people that came into our country.

Donald Trump has described Keir Starmer’s plan to recognise a Palestinian state as ‘one of our few disagreements’.

‘I have a disagreement with the Prime Minister on that score, one of our few disagreements actually,’ he told journalists at a press conference when asked about the British plan to recognise Palestinian statehood.

Mr Trump also insisted that ‘we have to have the hostages back immediately’.

He also accused Palestinian militant group Hamas of ‘putting the hostages up as bait’ and described this as ‘pretty brutal’.

Starmer, meanwhile, confirmed the pair had discussed his intention to recognise Palestinian statehood as they met in private on Thursday.

Recognition needs to be seen as ‘part of that overall package which hopefully takes us from the appalling situation we’re in now to the outcome of a safe and secure Israel, which we do not have, and a viable Palestinian state’, he added.

Donald Trump said he is ‘working very hard on Israel and Gaza’.

Complex, but it’s going to get done. It’ll all get done right. And, likewise, Russia and Ukraine will get done.

But you never know in war. War is a different thing. Things happen that are very opposite of what you thought.

You thought you were going to have an easy time or a hard time. And it turns out to be the reverse.

Donald Trump paid tribute to the close relationship between the UK and United States as he spoke alongside Keir Starmer at the start of a Chequers press conference.

The President described the King and Queen as ‘two fantastic people’.

The ‘traditions of British liberty’ unite the two countries, Trump said, and were carried over the Atlantic ‘by our ancestors to the new world’.

‘We will always be friends,’ he added.

Trump also quipped that the UK-US trade deal was a ‘better deal for you than us’ to Starmer

Starmer replied: ‘It is a good deal for the both of us.’

Donald Trump said he thought the Ukraine war would be the ‘easiest’ to resolve but Vladimir Putin had ‘really let me down’.

I want to congratulate the United Kingdom on making the vital commitment to spend 5% of GDP on defence at the Nato summit this year. We’ve worked together very closely in so many ways.

I’m very honoured to tell you that we’ve solved seven wars, seven wars, wars that were unsolvable, wars that couldn’t be negotiated or done, the US has done seven of them.

The one that I thought would be easiest …because of my relationship with President Putin, but he’s let me down. He’s really let me down … I thought it might be among the easiest of the group.

Turning his attention to Ukraine, Starmer has praised Donald Trump for trying to agree a peace deal with Russia

He says the US and UK are ‘working together to end the killing and adds Vladimir Putin’s recent attacks ‘are not the actions of someone who wants peace’.

So we’ve discussed today how we can build our defences, further support Ukraine, and decisively increase the pressure on Putin to get him to agree a peace deal that will last. And, President Trump, you have led the way here – and we will continue to stand and work together for security and for peace.

In his opening remarks, Keir Starmer says the second state visit and the technology prosperity deal marked a ‘new era’ for the special relationship.

Speaking alongside Donald Trump at Chequers, he said:

This historic second state visit is a moment to celebrate the unique bond between our two countries. But today, we’ve gone far beyond that. We’ve renewed the special relationship for a new era.

The United Kingdom, the United States stand together today as first partners on defence, first partners in trade – with the groundbreaking deal we struck in May – and now, with a new agreement that we’ve just signed this afternoon, we’re confirming our status as the first partners in science and technology ready to define this century together just as we did the last.

Donald Trump and Keir Starmer have now arrived at their joint press conference in Chequers.

Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump watched a demonstration by the Red Devils, the British Army’s parachute display team.

Members of the team jumped over Chequers, one carrying a large Union flag and another a large Stars and Stripes.

They were watched by the two leaders and their wives, before landing in the grounds of the estate.

We are now expecting the press conference to take place shortly.

First Lady Melania Trump has rejoined the President at Chequers after remaining in Windsor this morning.

Melania was welcomed to the Prime Minister’s country residence by Victoria Starmer and was later seen joining Trump and the Starmers to watch a parachute display.

It comes she remained in Windsor this morning to undertake a visit with Queen Camilla and a royal engagement with the Princess of Wales.

The Government says it has secured around £150 billion of US investment alongside Donald Trump’s visit to the UK.

The trip comes amid a key period for global trade, after the US president’s tariff plans led to significant trade tensions earlier this year.

Firms in some sectors have announced fresh commitments to pump billions into the UK, in a potential boost for Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

However, some industries criticised a lack of trade deal support and tough investment conditions in the UK.

Here the PA news agency looks at which sectors have been winners and losers this week:

America’s top technology companies announced £31 billion of investment alongside the announcement of a new US-UK tech prosperity deal. These included a commitment by Microsoft to invest £22 billion in the UK to fund an expansion of Britain’s AI infrastructure and the construction of the country’s largest AI supercomputer.

US software company Palantir announced plans to invest £1.5 billion in the UK’s defence sector, with funding going into the development of artificial intelligence-powered capabilities to speed up decision making, military planning and targeting. Defence Secretary John Healey said the investment was a “major vote of confidence” for the UK.

The steel industry was among the main sectors left disappointed by the president’s visit. Plans for US tariffs on UK steel exports to be scrapped have been shelved, with the UK pausing its push to bring the levy down to zero. UK steel exports to the US currently face a 25% tariff, compared with 50% for other nations.

As part of investments between the countries, UK pharmaceutical giant GSK revealed plans to put nearly £22 billion into US R&D and manufacturing over the next five years. The Government said the deal will “strengthen UK-US life sciences ties” but it comes amid a challenging backdrop for investment for the sector in the UK. Last week, US-based Merck said its UK operation will scrap plans for a £1 billion site in Kings Cross, which had been due to open in 2027.

So far so good for Keir Starmer and Donald Trump but the biggest test is about to come.

The two leaders will soon take part in a press conferences which could dampen the mood before the President heads back to the US.

Although Trump has appeared determined not to do anything to discomfort his hosts so far, a slew of awkward issues could arise when the leaders face the media this afternoon.

Earlier, we set out three potential flashpoints that could spark trouble between Trump and Starmer:

Downing Street is braced for a barrage of questions about what Sir Keir knew about Lord Mandelson’s relationship with notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The subject is particularly sensitive because of Mr Trump’s travails over his own relationship with Epstein. One Whitehall source said: ‘The PM does not want to talk about Mandelson at all, let alone Epstein, and everyone is acutely aware that Trump doesn’t want to talk about Epstein either.

Keir Starmer is braced to recognise a Palestinian state over the weekend after taking an increasingly critical stance of Israel over its war in Gaza. Starmer has held off on formally announcing the UK will recognise a Palestinian state until after Mr Trump leaves for fear it could dominate a Thursday news conference the two men plan to hold, according to the Times. The Prime Minister has found himself at odds with the US administration over the move, which is opposed to official recognition of Palestine.

Starmer has already rebutted Trump’s Vice-President JD Vance who said free speech was under threat across Europe and denounced Nigel Farage who claimed to US Congress Britain had become like North Korea in its approach to free speech following the arrest of Irish comedy writer Graham Linehan.

Melania Trump put on an autumnal display as she met the Princess of Wales in Windsor today.

The Slovenian-born First Lady, 55, dressed appropriately for the UK’s cooler temperatures in a brown belted suede coat on Thursday afternoon.

After sporting somewhat of a divisive yellow dress at yesterday’s glittering banquet, Melania showed her more casual wardrobe as she joined Scouts’ in the wild.

Melania, who is currently enjoying a state visit with her husband, President Donald Trump, completed her outfit with a pair of cream cigarette trousers.

And in an unusual move for the First Lady, who is often seen sporting stilettoes, she donned a pair of brown leather flats.

Melania changed her outfit from earlier this morning, when she wore a leather skirt suit while at the Royal Library with Queen Camilla.

Her hair and makeup was as equally glamorous to before, with her opting for eyeshadow and pink lipstick.

Keir Starmer talked up his personal ties with Donald Trump today as he braces for potential ‘truth bombs’ at a joint press conference.

The PM said the leaders ‘genuinely like each other’ as they oversaw a business reception at Chequers – with huge investment being announced as part of a tech deal.

As they signed the agreement, Mr Trump said the relationship between the nations was an ‘unbreakable bond’ and ‘priceless’.

The US president’s State Visit has turned to politics after a first day focused on pomp and ceremony at Windsor.

Read the full story by UK Political Editor James Tapsfield here:

Keir Starmer and Donald Trump signed the US-UK Tech Prosperity Deal in a tent in the gardens of Chequers.

The ceremony was attended by British and American business leaders including the chief executives of Nvidia, Microsoft, Rolls-Royce, Boeing, BAE Systems, GlaxoSmithKline, Alphabet, BlackRock and Citi Group.

The tent was decorated with Union flag and Stars and Stripes bunting.

Also in attendance were Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US treasury secretary Scott Bessent and US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick.

Donald Trump joked with his treasury secretary Scott Bessent and commerce secretary Howard Lutnick as he signed the US-UK tech deal alongside Keir Starmer.

He said: ‘Should I sign this Howard? Scott? If the deal’s no good I’m blaming you.’

New US-UK co-operation will help the two countries ‘dominate’ the future of artificial intelligence, Donald Trump said.

Speaking to US business chiefs at Chequers, the US president said:

This agreement will also help America and our British allies dominate the future of artificial intelligence.

You need the energy, you have to have the energy. That’s one thing I learned very quickly. They need a lot of electricity.

The US is ‘leading China and the world by a lot’ on AI, he added.

Donald Trump said the UK and US had an ‘unbreakable bond’ as he hailed the ‘exquisite honour’ of a second state visit.

Speaking alongside Sir Keir Starmer the US President said:

(I’m) sincerely grateful to Prime Minister Starmer and Lady Starmer for welcoming us to this very special home, this beautiful place.

And I was here a number of years ago, but somehow today, it looks even better, even more beautiful and even more historic. Melania and I are forever thankful to His Majesty King Charles the Third, and Her Majesty, Queen Camilla.

Had a fantastic evening last night, but the exquisite honour of a second official state visit, the first ever.

It’s the first time it’s ever been done, was really was an honour such great history, and to think it’s a first, it’s always nice to have a first, but the ties between our countries are priceless, and it’s really an inheritance, beautiful inheritance.

Today, we’re making those ties closer than ever before. We’ve done some things that financially are great for both countries, and we work together, and it keeps us together. And I think it’s an unbreakable bond we have, regardless of what we’re doing today, I think it’s unbreakable

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he is ‘proud’ of what the UK brings to the table in its relationship with the US, adding together the countries can ‘deliver more for working people’.

Sitting alongside US president Donald Trump at a business event at Chequers, Sir Keir said:

The UK is one of the world’s largest economies, maybe not quite on the scale of the United States, I concede, but my word, we punch above our weight, and we lead the world in expertise on quantum on AI, life sciences, financial services and more.

We have the only trillion dollar tech sector in the West, outside of the US, again, I caveat. We have the best investment, the best universities, the most Nobel Prizes … here outside the US.

That’s what we bring to the table, and we are proud of it. That’s why we both benefit from this incredible relationship. Look at the economic prosperity deal that we struck back in May. It was the first trade deal that the President made, and yes, it was the best deal as well.

We have the lowest tariffs in the world in vital sectors, and that is some achievement. It was a tough negotiation, but we did it for a reason, because it’s a win for both sides, and because we knew that by working together, we could deliver more for working people.

Sir Keir Starmer said it was a ‘great day for the special relationship’ as he praised ‘my friend, our friend, President Trump.’

This is a great day for the special relationship: a celebration of what has gone before, of course, but more than that, a moment to deliver investments, jobs and deals which will improve people’s lives now and light up the special relationship for years to come.

So thank you all, and now it is my pleasure to hand the floor to my friend, our friend, President Trump.

Keir Starmer says new American investment in the UK ‘breaks all records’ and will be ‘life changing’ for the British people.

Starmer says there will be £250 billion ‘flowing both ways across the Atlantic’ following new deals agreed between the two countries which he described as the ‘biggest investment package of its kind in British history, by a country mile’.

He said the money will create 15,000 jobs across the country.

Sir Keir Starmer welcomed Donald Trump to his ‘home from home’ as the pair met business chiefs in Chequers.

There’s so much to celebrate in the special relationship between our two countries. By standing together in war and peace, this bond is the very foundation of our security, our freedom and our prosperity.

When Melania Trump stepped off Marine One in Windsor’s royal estate she was greeted by the Princess of Wales and her husband Prince William.

And now she has carried out her joint engagement with Kate as they hosted a picnic for around 20 Scout Squirrels, aged four and five, in Frogmore Gardens.

Here are some more pictures of Kate and Melania earlier this afternoon:

The Princess of Wales was deployed by the King last night to charm Donald Trump in an act of expert soft diplomacy that also left his usually-measured wife Melania awestruck and ‘giddy’ in her presence.

In a sure sign Princess Catherine is fast becoming as influential as the King and her husband, she ‘dazzled’ the President and melted his ‘icy-cool’ First Lady on the first day of their state visit to Britain.

Kate was strategically placed at Mr Trump’s right-hand side at last night’s extraordinary Windsor Castle state banquet, clinking glasses with him and repeatedly bestowing dazzling smiles upon him during the meal.

One expert told the Daily Mail today that her ‘soft-skill flirting’ with the leader of the free world ‘reduced the President to a man rather in awe’.

Christopher Ruddy, the American CEO of Newsmax Media, is a friend of Donald Trump and was at the banquet last night.

He said: ‘The President spent most of the night speaking with Kate. So I think we should find out what she heard. They were very deep in discussion and I could tell he was really fascinated. He was really engaged with her’.

Donald Trump and Keir Starmer will shortly host a business reception at Chequers.

The President has been viewing the Sir Winston Churchill archives with the Prime Minister, with the leaders also holding bilateral talks.

The reception comes before a press conference scheduled for later this afternoon.

Here are some more pictures of Princess Kate and Melania Trump hosting a group of Scout in their first ever joint engagement.

Kate, joint president of the Scouts, welcomed the children to the gardens of Frogmore House, close to the castle.

Mrs Trump came bearing gifts: a jar of White House honey for each of the children from Lewisham, south London.

She was joined by Chief Scout Dwayne Fields, who said before the event:

Having someone with the profile of the Princess of Wales as joint president, you can imagine it’s incredible for the young people to see her. I think it’s a great thing to have her shine a light on the movement.

by Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent

President Donald Trump was welcomed to Chequers by two bagpipers, which drowned out any opportunity reporters had to shout questions at the president and Keir Starmer.

Starmer, like Trump, has found himself politically plagued by the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

He sacked the UK’s ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, after friendly messages to Epstein amid the 2008 investigation into his sex trafficking were exposed.

One reporter shouted at Trump over the bagpipes, simply asking how he found his royal visit to Windsor Castle.

‘Great, really great, thank you,’ Trump mouthed, walking inside the British Camp David alongside the prime minister and Lady Victoria Starmer.

The Princess of Wales has been joint president of the Scouts with the Duke of Kent since 2020.

On today’s visit, Kate and Melania will have the opportunity to join the children as they build a bug hotel and try leaf printing using fallen leaves which have been collected from Frogmore Gardens.

The Princess and The First Lady will then lead a badge presentation for the Squirrels, a Scouts programme for four to six-year-old children, before hosting a picnic.

As part of their lunch, each of the children will receive sandwiches containing honey made by the Princess herself from the Wales family’s hives at Anmer Hall.

In addition, the First Lady will gift a jar of White House honey to each of the children as a memento of their very special day.

A royal spokesman explained the wellbeing of children is important to both the Princess and First Lady.

By Rebecca English Royal Editor

It couldn’t have been more of a contrast to the glitter of last night’s state banquet.

But the Princess of Wales and the US First Lady looked equally at home out of their finery as they joined a group of Scouts’ in the wild’ at Windsor this morning.

Catherine, 43, invited Melania Trump, 55, to accompany her for a fun last engagement together before she departed the castle to join her husband and the Prime Minister at Chequers.

Kate wore a skirt by Ralph Lauren and a scarf from Sudbury Mill in Suffolk, where she visited last week to watch the production of the silk jacquard and help weave.

The two ladies met up with a group of Scouts Squirrels – the youngest part of the UK Scouting organisation and designed for four to five-year-olds – who were working to earn their ‘Go Wild’ badge in Frogmore Gardens, in front of Frogmore House.

The gardens are on the Frogmore Estate where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took up residence from 2019 at Frogmore Cottage, a Grade-II listed two-storey, stucco-faced house.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tiffany Trump at the state banquet

CEOs from some of America’s leading businesses will flock to Chequers today as Keir Starmer hosts Donald Trump at his official country residence.

The Prime Minister has already announced £150 billion of investment commitments from US companies into the UK has been secured during the State Visit.

Today, business leaders, some of whom were guests at last night’s state banquet at Windsor Castle, will head to Chequers for further US-UK talks.

It is expected the following CEOs will attend:

• Tim Cook, Apple
• Larry Fink, BlackRock
• Sam Altman OpenAI
• Satya Nadella, MIcrosoft
• Jensen Huang, Nvidia
• Jim Taiclet, Lockheed Martin
• Alex Karp, Palantir Technology
• Ruth Porat, Alphabet

A source close to the Royal Family say Donald and Melania Trump were ‘very easy to deal with’ throughout their stay at Windsor Castle.

More details are emerging of the President’s final hours in Windsor which included not having breakfast with the King and Queen this morning.

The suite the Trumps stayed in overnight at the castle was not disclosed for security reasons.

A royal source meanwhile hailed Trump’s second State Visit as a success, saying the president and First Lady showed how much the appreciated the ‘awesome spectacle’.

It was very pleasing to see the way the state visit has been warmly received both by the guests and the media on both sides of the Atlantic,” the source said. It’s a clear sign of soft power and diplomacy.

The visiting party was very easy to deal with and very appreciative of the hospitality. All elements of the pomp and pageantry created an awesome spectacle. You can tell from the expression of the principals how much they appreciated it.

Donald Trump appeared to take a veiled double swipe at Prince Harry during his state banquet speech as he lavished praise on Prince William and King Charles III.

The US President spoke highly of the Prince of Wales, describing him as the King’s ‘remarkable son’ and ‘really amazing’ – with no mention of his brother Harry.

Mr Trump said last night: ‘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 an 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.’

Mr Trump also claimed the King had helped wounded veterans ‘like nobody else’ during the glittering dinner at Windsor Castle for his second historic state visit.

by Rebecca English, Royal Editor

Donald Trump told King Charles ‘I like it when I smile’ as they posed for their last official photographs in Windsor Castle this morning

In the Green Corridor, Trump gave a big grin bearing his teeth as he stood next to the King, with the First Lady on the president’s other side, and the Queen next to Charles.

President Trump said, prompting a large chuckle from the King: ‘I looked at the picture we took last night…But you were more serious than me…She (Melania) said ‘You’re smiling’ and I said ‘Yeah I like it when I smile’.

Mr Trump is believed to have been referring to the group photograph ahead of the banquet.

The first pictures of Donald Trump and Keir Starmer inside Chequers have emerged.

The President and Prime Minister will hold a bilateral meeting, speak to business chiefs and hold a press conference at the country home in Buckinghamshire.

The US president’s State Visit is turning to politics after a first day focused on pomp and ceremony at Windsor.

Although Mr Trump has appeared determined not to do anything to discomfort his hosts so far, a slew of awkward issues could arise when the leaders face the media this afternoon.

The sacking of US ambassador Lord Mandelson over his emails to Jeffrey Epstein, American concerns about free speech in the UK, and the situation in Gaza are all likely flashpoints.

We can now show you footage of the moment Donald Trump landed in Chequers as he holds talks with Keir Starmer on the final day of his UK State Visit.

The President will spend the day in Buckinghamshire before returning to London Stansted to board Air Force One back to Washington.

Broadcaster Piers Morgan has revealed he spoke to Donald Trump who told him he has ‘loved’ being in the UK during his State Visit.

Morgan, a friend of Trump, said he also talked to Melania this morning who was also happy with the couple’s stay.

Melania Trump has been pictured touring the world’s most famous dolls’ house with Queen Camilla as she remained in Windsor this morning.

The First Lady was escorted by Camilla to Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House at Windsor Castle, the largest and most famous dolls’ house in the world.

Built between 1921 and 1924 for Queen Mary, consort of King George V, by the leading British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, it contains tiny works from over 1,500 of the finest artists, craftspeople and manufacturers of the early 20th century.

Melania, 55, was also given a tour of the Royal Library and some of its treasures.

Afterwards she will join the Princess of Wales for a fun final engagement with the Scouts’ Squirrels programme in Frogmore Gardens.

Here are some pictures of the moment Donald Trump was greeted outside Chequers by Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria.

Trump flew the short distance from Windsor to Buckinghamshire on his Marine One helicopter before he was driven in a presidential limosuine to the front door.

Donald Trump and Keir Starmer have shaken hands outside Chequers after the President arrived via helicopter.

Sir Keir and Lady Starmer shook hands with Mr Trump and posed for photographs before going inside.

The leaders will hold a bilateral meeting this morning before meeting business chiefs and holding a press conference this afternoon.

Donald Trump has arrived at the Prime Minister’s country retreat Chequers for talks with Sir Keir Starmer.

Trump flew from Windsor to Chequers, in Buckinghamshire, by helicopter, landing in the grounds of the house before being driven to the front door.

He was greeted by an honour guard of RAF personnel from nearby RAF Halton and two RAF bagpipers.

These are some of the final pictures of Donald Trump and King Charles following a formal farewell at Windsor Castle this morning.

Trump and Melania said their goodbyes to the monarch and Queen Camilla in the castle’s grand Green Corridor morning before the President headed to the Prime Minister’s country residence Chequers, ready to turn his attention to politics.

The four posed for a joint photograph together in the atmospheric corridor which is lined with gilt edged historic paintings and antique furniture.

Outside at the sovereign’s entrance, the King said a solo goodbye with Mr Trump shaking his hands warmly and placing his other hand on top. The president said ‘thank you very much, everybody. He’s a great gentleman and a great King’.

by James Tapsfield, UK Political Editor

An old joke asks: ‘how do porcupines mate?’ The inevitable punchline is: ‘Very carefully.’

Keir Starmer might be feeling a similar imperative as he prepares for his moment of truth with Donald Trump today.

The PM has been desperately burnishing his own – entirely platonic – Special Relationship with the leader of the world’s most powerful nation.

Downing Street calculates that the massive AI investment boost, shielding from ‘beautiful’ trade tariffs, and ability to influence America on crucial issues like Ukraine make the risks worthwhile.

But Sir Keir has not secured everything he wanted, with the promised zero tariffs on steel exports failing to materialise.

And he is painfully aware of the dangers of getting too close to Mr Trump.

Although the president has appeared determined not to discomfort his hosts so far – turning on the charm for his day with the King – he is notoriously unpredictable.

The media are eagerly awaiting one of Mr Trump’s free-form, extended press conferences this afternoon.

Spikiness on issues such as Lord Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein, Gaza, MAGA’s view of free speech in the UK, and Putin looks almost inevitable.

Sir Keir will have to be an extremely careful wooer to escape the encounter without a scratch.

Here’s the moment Donald Trump departed from Windsor Castle where he spent the first day of his second UK State Visit.

The President is heading to Chequers, Keir Starmer’s country retreat in Buckinghamshire, this morning for talks about US investment into Britain.

Donald Trump bid farewell to the Royal Family at Windsor Castle this morning before heading for talks with Sir Keir Starmer at his grace and favour country home.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted the Trumps overnight at the Berkshire castle, where they stayed in a ‘spectacular room with the most spectacular views’.

Although brief, the royal segment of Mr Trump’s state visit has been viewed as a crucial precursor to important trade and military negotiations taking place today. One diplomatic source told the Mail: ‘I think we can safely say it’s been a triumph.’

This morning, the Windsor Castle detachment of The King’s Guard was turned out in the castle Quadrangle in a final show of pomp and pageantry. However while her husband departed, the First Lady will stay on by herself for another couple of hours.

Read our breaking news story here:

Donald Trump has left Windsor Castle as he makes his way to Chequers for talks with Keir Starmer.

Cameras captured Trump and King Charles speaking on stone steps outside the castle where the President described the monarch as a ‘great gentleman and a great king’.

Charles and Trump emerged from the wooden doors of Sovereign’s Entance at Windsor Castle at 10:20am.

They shook hands and chatted before Trump clasped the king’s hands with both of his, pausing to look at cameras and call the king ‘a great king’ and a ‘great gentleman.’

A royal guard stood on the quadrangle inside the castle grounds, behind the Beast, as Trump made his departure; one played a bugle as the Beast rolled slowly out. Trump left Windsor at 10:23 am.

Donald and Melania Trump have stayed in a ‘spectacular room with the most spectacular views’ at Windsor Castle overnight during their state visit to Britain.

The US President and the First Lady spent the night at the royal residence in a grand guest suite which is thought to have a double bedroom and a spare single room.

The reason for the two rooms is said to be linked to a tradition that if a husband goes to bed later than his wife, he can sleep in another place without disturbing her.

Buckingham Palace would not tell the Mail exactly where the Trumps were staying last night, but it is believed to have been in one of the castle’s grand guest suites.

The Trumps are likely to stay in one of the principal rooms along the front of the castle which have views across The Long Walk and wider Berkshire landscape.

Read the full story here:

Watch our live stream from Windsor Castle as President Donald Trump says farewell to the Royal Family:

As Donald Trump prepares to leave Windsor, the First Lady will stay on by herself for another couple of hours.

She will be first escorted by the Queen to Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, the largest and most famous dolls’ house in the world.

Built between 1921 and 1924 for Queen Mary, consort of King George V, by the leading British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, it contains tiny works from over 1,500 of the finest artists, craftspeople and manufacturers of the early 20th century.

Melania, 55, will then be given a tour of the Royal Library and some of its priceless treasures.

Afterwards she will join the Princess of Wales for a fun final engagement with the Scouts’ Squirrels programme in Frogmore Gardens.

by Rebecca English, Royal Editor

The King and Queen will bade a fond farewell to US President Donald Trump and the First Lady today following what has been declared as a ‘triumph’ of an historic State Visit.

Last night’s state banquet was full of warm praise all round, with Mr Trump making no secret of his admiration not only for the King, but his wife and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Indeed, he described the invitation to travel to the UK for an unprecedented second time as ‘one of the highest honours’ of his life.

Although brief, the royal segment of his three-day visit was seen as a crucial precursor to important trade and military negotiations.

One diplomatic source told the Mail today: ‘I think we can safely say it’s been a triumph.’

Today King Charles formally said farewell to his guests, along with Queen Camilla, before the President departed to be met by the Prime Minister at Chequers.

The Windsor Castle detachment of The King’s Guard was turned out in the castle Quadrangle in a final show of pomp and pageantry.

Keir Starmer is bracing for potential ‘Trump bombs’ as the state visit turns to politics today.

After a first day focused on pomp and ceremony at Windsor, the US president will travel to the PM’s Chequers country retreat.

Although Mr Trump has appeared determined not to do anything to discomfort his hosts so far, a slew of awkward issues could arise when the leaders take a joint press conference this afternoon.

Here’s three landmines that could spark trouble for the Special Relationship:

Downing Street is braced for a barrage of questions about what Sir Keir knew about Lord Mandelson’s relationship with notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The subject is particularly sensitive because of Mr Trump’s travails over his own relationship with Epstein. One Whitehall source said: ‘The PM does not want to talk about Mandelson at all, let alone Epstein, and everyone is acutely aware that Trump doesn’t want to talk about Epstein either.

Keir Starmer is braced to recognise a Palestinian state over the weekend after taking an increasingly critical stance of Israel over its war in Gaza. Starmer has held off on formally announcing the UK will recognise a Palestinian state until after Mr Trump leaves for fear it could dominate a Thursday news conference the two men plan to hold, according to the Times. The Prime Minister has found himself at odds with the US administration over the move, which is opposed to official recognition of Palestine.

Starmer has already rebutted Trump’s Vice-President JD Vance who said free speech was under threat across Europe and denounced Nigel Farage who claimed to US Congress Britain had become like North Korea in its approach to free speech following the arrest of Irish comedy writer Graham Linehan.

A Treasury minister insisted the Government was ‘standing up for British industry’ as he faced questions about the shelving of plans to eliminate US tariffs on UK steel.

Asked whether hopes had been abandoned of securing the reduction in the levy, which stands at 25%, Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray told Sky News:

Let me put it in context, because we’re obviously the only country to avoid the 50% tariffs and that’s as a result of the deal that the Prime Minister struck with President Trump.

It was put to him that the tariffs were higher than they were a year ago, to which he responded:

We’re standing up for British industry and the context is the 50% tariffs and were the only country to avoid them.

Keir Starmer’s hopes to eliminate Donald Trump’s ‘beautiful’ tariffs on steel imports from Britain appear to have been dashed with no agreement apparently reached between the two nations.

A US-UK deal signed earlier this year slashed trade barriers on a number of goods for both countries but left British steel exports standing at 25%, rather than falling to zero as originally agreed.

Officials have since been working to secure a more favourable arrangement for the sector, which has struggled with high energy prices, increased tariffs and global overcapacity.

However, it emerged on the eve of Trump’s second state visit to Britain that efforts to slash the levy to zero had been put on ice.

The US president had hinted at possible tariff relief for British steel as he boarded Air Force One earlier on Tuesday, but Downing Street would not be drawn on the scope for movement ahead of the two-day stay.

‘We’ve made a deal, and it’s a great deal, and I’m into helping them,’ he said.

On the face of it, the relationship may seem far from a match made in heaven.

On the one hand you have a Trump, a charismatic showman who often shows little respect for his country’s institutions.

And on the other you have Starner, a serious technocrat whose personal ratings have worsened despite his insistence on putting the country first and his party second.

Yet, the leaders have struck up an unlikely bromance which was on full display in the Oval Office earlier this year.

In an extraordinary 30-minute exchange at the White House, the President and Prime Minister lavished each other with praise and played down the vast political gulf between them.

In July, Trump told reporters during a private visit to Scotland: ‘The prime minister’s done a great job. I want to just tell that to the people of the United Kingdom. He’s done a very, very good job.’

But with the UK and US increasingly growing apart on Israel and tensions surrounding free speech most noticeably highlighted by Nigel Farage, can the men’s special relationship shine in Buckinghamshire today.

Donald Trump today concludes his second state UK visit which he described last night as his ‘highest honour’ with the President the only leader to twice receive the red carpet treatment in Britain.

It may be the President’s last day but he has a packed schedule as he travels to Chequers where Keir Starmer will host him for his last few hours.

Here’s what to expect today:

• Donald Trump will say farewell to the Royal Family at Windsor Castle before leaving for Chequers in Buckinghamshire
• First Lady Melania will stay behind and join Queen Camilla on a tour of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House in Windsor
• After arriving at Chequers, Trump and Starmer will hold a bilateral meeting
• Melania and Kate are expected to carry out a rare joint engagement in Frogmore Gardens where they will meet Britain’s Chief Scout
• Trump and Starmer are expected to speak at a business event before a Red Devils parachute display – he will also be joined by Melania
• The two leaders will then take part in a press conference which has been highlighted as a possible moment of jeopardy for Starmer.
• The Trumps will leave Chequers and travel to London Stansted where they will board Air Force One to Joint Base Andrews

Rachel Reeves will host a business reception in Downing Street for bosses at top US and UK financial firms, including BlackRock, Barclays and Blackstone in a bid to highlight Transatlantic economic co-operation.

It comes after the Government announced £150 billion worth of investment will flow to the UK from the US by huge American companies including Blackstone and Palantir.

Starmer and Trump will also sign a technology prosperity deal at the Buckinghamshire estate.

The two men will also meet investors including bosses from GSK, Microsoft and Rolls-Royce while Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will also have face-to-face talks at Chequers.

However, there are still questions about what the US might want in return – after a push to water down the UK’s digital services tax.

President Donald Trump hailed the special relationship between his country and Britain as he paid a gushing tribute to King Charles during his historic second state visit, calling it one of the highest honours of his life.

Here, the Daily Mail reveals the leader of the free world’s subtle acts of kindness and compliments which you might have missed.

From the very outset, the British strategy for the visit of President Donald Trump had been a simple one: just push the boat out. In the event, it was more of an aircraft carrier.

All State visits are special but this one has taken specialness to a new level, as the President himself acknowledged at last night’s State Banquet. ‘This is truly one of the highest honours of my life,’ he said in a speech rich in praise for both the King and Britain.

No detail was too tiny. Even the after-dinner cognac had been chosen from 1912, the year of Mr Trump’s mother’s birth, while the port was from 1945, a nod to his election as America’s 45th President. No matter that he is teetotal. It’s the thought that counts.

Read the full article by Robert Hardman below:

Windsor Castle last night served as the glittering backdrop for one of the biggest shows of royal power in decades.

US President Donald Trump was feted with a regal banquet at the end of the first day of his unprecedented second State visit.

While he and the King swapped speeches and sat at the centre of the grand table, most eyes were on the trio of leading ladies.

The Princess of Wales 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 sported sapphire, from her tiara to the colour of her embroidered Fiona Clare dress.

Meanwhile, First Lady Melania Trump struck a note of modern style in an off-shoulder yellow dress with a clashing purple belt.

King Charles last night praised Donald Trump’s efforts to make peace around the globe.

Since being elected to office Mr Trump has sought to be known as a peacemaker and made no secret of the fact that he covets a Nobel prize.

Our countries are working together in support of crucial diplomatic efforts, not least of which, Mr President, is your own personal commitment to finding solutions to some of the world’s most intractable conflicts, in order to secure peace.

The monarch also emphasised the importance of protecting nature for future generations.

In striving for a better world, we also have a precious opportunity to safeguard and to restore the wonders and beauty of nature for the generations who follow us. We share the ambition, and determination, to preserve our majestic lands and waters; above all, to ensure that we have clean water, clean air and clean food.

President Donald Trump paid a heartfelt tribute to America’s relationship with the UK saying the word ‘special does not begin to do it justice’.

The US leader also heaped praise on the King describing his as a ‘very, very special man’, listing a catalogue of his passions from the environment to architecture during a banquet staged in his honour to mark Mr Trump’s second historic state visit.

He singled out Charles’s ‘really amazing’ son and heir the Prince of Wales for a mention and the “beautiful” Princess of Wales sitting next to the president.

Mr Trump told the guests, who included media mogul Rupert Murdoch, gathered in Windsor Castle’s St George’s Hall:

Seen from American eyes the word special does not begin to do it justice.

We’re joined by history and faith, by love and language and by transcendent ties of culture, tradition, ancestry and destiny. We’re like two notes in one chord or two verses of the same poem, each beautiful on its own, but really meant to be played together. The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal.

President Donald Trump praised ‘radiant’ and ‘healthy’ Princess Kate as he delivered a toast Wednesday night to King Charles at a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle.

The president of the United States found himself sandwiched between the king and Kate Middleton, while First Lady Melania Trump and Queen Camilla sat across from their husbands.

He spoke highly of both royals.

Trump told Prince William, who was seated across the grand table, that ‘we’ve gotten to know you’ and the future king will have an ‘unbelievable success in the 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 and so beautiful,’ Trump said.

While Donald Trump heads to Chequers, his First Lady Melania will attend her first joint engagement with the Princess of Wales in Windsor.

In a rare move, the women will meet this morning in Frogmore Gardens where they will meet Chief Scout Dwayne Fields and members of the Scouts’ Squirrels programme.

It comes after Kate and William played a major role in welcoming the Trumps on the first full day of their state visit by greeting them off their Marine One helicopter.

The Prime Minister is set to face further embarrassment about his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US today when he holds a joint press conference with Donald Trump.

Downing Street is braced for a barrage of questions about what he knew about Lord Mandelson’s relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein when he stands alongside the President at the event at Chequers this afternoon.

The subject has been made even more sensitive by Mr Trump’s travails over his own relationship with Epstein.

One Whitehall source said: ‘The PM does not want to talk about Mandelson at all, let alone Epstein, and everyone is acutely aware that Trump doesn’t want to talk about Epstein either.

‘But there are obviously going to be questions and trying to answer them in a way that does not aggravate Trump is a nightmare prospect. The whole thing looks very fraught.’

The PM has faced serious questions about his judgment after he publicly backed Lord Mandelson to stay on, despite his well-known friendship with Epstein, and then sacked him the following day.

Read the full story by the Daily Mail’s Political Editor Jason Groves below:

American investment worth £150 billion has been unveiled as part of US President Donald Trump’s historic second state visit.

Some 7,600 ‘high quality’ jobs will be created across the country as a result of the influx of cash from big US firms, according to the Government.

Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the announcement, ahead of a day of high-level discussions with Mr Trump at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country home.

When we back British brilliance, champion our world-class industries, and forge deeper global alliances — especially with friends like the US — we help shape the future for generations to come and make people across the country better off.

Among the firms pledging investment in the UK are asset management company Blackstone, which will invest £90 billion cash on top of £10 billion previously announced to develop data centres.

Others include investment firm Prologis, pledging £3.9 billion, and software company Palantir, pledging £1.5 billion.

The new flow of cash from the US into the UK comes as Sir Keir and Mr Trump are expected to sign a new technology prosperity deal when they meet on Thursday.

Sir Keir Starmer will host Donald Trump at his grace and favour country home today as the Prime Minister continues his campaign to woo the US president.

The Prime Minister is hoping to keep the focus of the visit on an influx of American investment into the UK, all while both his Government and the Trump administration are plagued by scandals related to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Overnight, Sir Keir announced the prospect of some £150 billion flowing into the UK from big US firms such as Blackstone and Palantir.

As Sir Keir and Mr Trump meet at Chequers – the Prime Minister’s estate in Buckinghamshire – they also plan to sign a technology prosperity deal, touted as offering major investment by US tech firms in Britain, that will help to develop its AI capabilities.

Questions have, however, begun to arise over what American companies may want in return, with suggestions a tax on digital services – which largely impacts on US companies – could be reduced or eliminated.

Hopes that a deal aimed at reducing steel tariffs on British imports to the US could be hammered out during the state visit, meanwhile, appear to have fallen by the wayside, media reports have suggested.

Hello and welcome to the Daily Mail’s live coverage of Donald Trump’s final day of his unprecedented second UK state visit.

After spending the day rubbing shoulders with the royals at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, Trump will shift his attention to politics as the President is hosted by Keir Starmer at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country retreat.

The leaders plan to announce a new technology partnership billed as a major investment by US tech firms in Britain, but questions have been raised over what American companies may want in return.

A press conference scheduled for this afternoon could prove to be the moment of most jeopardy for what has been a carefully choreographed visit, as questions about Lord Peter Mandelson and Mr Trump’s links to the late Epstein will likely arise.

Meanwhile, the First Lady Melania Trump and the Princess of Wales are expected to join forces at Windsor this morning when they meet the Scouts in their first joint engagement.

Stick with us throughout the day as we bring you the latest developments from our team of reporters in London and New York.