Italian
A banquet fit for a king, a record investment of £150 billion and thousands of protesters in the streets. Donald Trump’s second state visit to the United Kingdom, hosted in Windsor, was conceived as the perfect stage: monarchical pomp on one side, economic calculations on the other. But behind the glittering façade, the political balance for Keir Starmer remains precarious
LONDON (UK) – The ceremony staged by Buckingham Palace had all the hallmarks of an exceptional event. Trump and the First Lady, welcomed by King Charles and Queen Camilla, travelled through the castle grounds in a royal carriage escorted by the Household Cavalry, while three state flags – Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards – were deployed together for the first time on an official occasion.
After inspecting the guard of honour and having lunch with the royal family, the president visited a special exhibition of the Royal Collection dedicated to Anglo-American relations, before attending a military ceremony on the castle’s east lawn with the sovereigns and the Starmer couple. The highlight was a flypast by F-35s and Red Arrows, symbolising the strategic alliance between London and Washington.
In the evening, St George’s Hall provided the setting for a sumptuous state banquet, attended by technology leaders, diplomats and sports personalities. In his official speeches, Charles III reiterated the “enduring bond” between the two nations, while Trump spoke of an “eternal” friendship, praising the monarch as “a very special man”.
Starmer’s counter-move: £150 billion on the table
While Windsor offered the image of a solid and traditional relationship, Downing Street needed a modern and concrete narrative: that of a United Kingdom capable of attracting global capital. Hence the announcement of £150 billion in American investment, the largest package ever signed, led by Blackstone (£90 billion over ten years), Prologis and Palantir.
The promise of 7,600 jobs in the clean energy and life sciences sectors was presented as a sign that Britain remains “open and ambitious”. . But Nick Clegg’s critical words – he called the technology agreement with American big tech “sloppy seconds from Silicon Valley” – reminded everyone that behind the figures lies the most sensitive issue: how much of this package will really strengthen British industry and how much will be a facade?
Trump’s two-day visit summed up the entire contradiction of post-Brexit Britain: the search for an American anchor, dependence on foreign investment, the desire to be a global player, but also a vigilant civil society ready to challenge authoritarian tendencies and questionable alliances.
Trump left with royal honours and rhetoric of eternal bonds. Starmer is left with the most difficult task: convincing the British people that this marriage of convenience with Washington does not mean selling off the country’s industrial future.
