Donald Trump arrived at Windsor Castle, and it is being called historic since he is the first political leader to ever be invited for two state visits by the monarchy. The focus quickly shifted because people could not stop talking about what Melania Trump was wearing.
The president and the first lady were greeted at the residence by Prince William and Kate Middleton just after landing. They had flown in by helicopter after already arriving earlier that day on Air Force One, where they first met the US ambassador.
King Charles and Queen Camilla joined them for a carriage procession through the Windsor estate. The path was lined with members of the British military, and it had the feel of a full ceremonial welcome.
While all of that was happening, people online were fixated on Melania’s look. She wore a charcoal grey suit with a wide-brimmed hat that immediately drew comments. One person posted: “Melania has deployed the big hat” while another joked: “I’m sure that I saw Melania’s hat on sale yesterday in the John Lewis lighting department.”
Someone else added: “Melania’s wearing one of those hats!” and another person wrote: “Who chooses Melania’s clothes? She looks like gestapo again.” The comments were mostly lighthearted but it showed how much her outfit stood out.
The schedule for the Trumps is a packed one. They will be welcomed inside the castle by the King and Queen, and despite being unwell with sinusitis, Camilla will be there after all. Plans include inspecting the guard of honour, a state lunch, and a look at items from the Royal Collection.
A salute will be fired in Trump’s honour at midday from guns at Windsor and the Tower of London. Later, Trump will lay a wreath at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth. The evening events include a choir performance, a Beating Retreat with a military flypast, and another state banquet.
It is also expected that serious conversations will take place between the leaders during this visit. A former ambassador explained: “Security is tightly bound with America. So, this is a real opportunity to submit to those links to make the best of it.”
He also said there could be tough talks over Ukraine and tariffs on countries that still buy oil from Russia, which makes it a tricky subject.
