While U.S. President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer engaged in discussions on global affairs during the final day of the historic state visit, Queen Camilla and Princess Catherine hosted First Lady Melania Trump in Windsor. The visit featured a library tour, miniature books, leaf printing, and bug hotels, offering a unique cultural exchange.
Before joining Princess Catherine, Mrs. Trump accompanied Queen Camilla on a tour of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. This dolls’ house, the largest in the world, was constructed between 1921 and 1924 for Queen Mary and designed by the renowned British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. In the 1920s, authors such as A.A. Milne, creator of Winnie-the-Pooh, and Arthur Conan Doyle, famous for the Sherlock Holmes series, contributed special handwritten miniature volumes for the house.
“That’s incredible,” the First Lady remarked as she admired the intricate work on the miniature books, including The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. Following the tour, Camilla and Mrs. Trump met with a group of schoolchildren engaged in writing and illustrating their own miniature books as part of an art project.
Engaging with the Squirrel Scouts
Mrs. Trump later joined Princess Catherine and a group of 20 children on the lawn of Frogmore House, a 17th-century country house near the castle favored by Queen Victoria. The children, part of the Squirrel Scouts, were participating in nature activities to earn their Go Wild badges. Mrs. Trump assisted them in creating leaf images and constructing cardboard homes for insects.
“This is beautiful,” she commented, taking a moment to appreciate the children’s artwork. Together, the First Lady and Princess Catherine awarded badges to the scouts for their efforts, with Mrs. Trump applauding and congratulating them. The Princess of Wales also organized a special packed lunch for the children, featuring sandwiches made with honey from her Norfolk home. Chief Scout Dwayne Fields described the event as a “great morning for all involved.”
“This is beautiful,” she said as she sat down in a chair to examine the children’s artwork.
This interaction marked the first time Mrs. Trump and Princess Catherine collaborated on a royal engagement, highlighting the personal connections formed during the state visit.
The Business End of the Trip
The state visit commenced with President Trump surrounded by the grandeur of British pageantry. Amidst high-level politicians, media moguls, tech giants, and athletes, the spectacle included a lavish banquet at Windsor Castle. However, while Mrs. Trump spent more time with the royals, President Trump’s agenda on Thursday was more focused, with the Prime Minister hosting him at Chequers, his official country estate.
Upon arrival at Chequers, President Trump was greeted by Sir Keir and Lady Victoria Starmer, with a ceremonial honor guard complete with bagpipers. The leaders viewed items from the archive of wartime leader Winston Churchill and enjoyed a lunch of Dover sole followed by key lime pie. The day was capped with a display by the Red Devils army parachute team to commemorate the historic state visit.
At the conclusion of a press conference covering a wide range of topics, the President and First Lady posed for photographs with the Prime Minister and his wife before making their way back to London Stansted Airport.
Unexpected Helicopter Incident
However, the return journey faced a minor hiccup when the President’s helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing due to a hydraulic issue. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the landing was made “out of an abundance of caution.”
“The president and first lady safely boarded the support helicopter … and were later able to board Air Force One for the return journey from the UK,” she said.
The two-day state visit concluded with a display of pageantry and a lavish banquet, during which King Charles III and President Trump both commented on the enduring relationship between the U.K. and the U.S. The visit, marked by both cultural exchanges and high-level diplomatic discussions, underscored the multifaceted nature of international relations.
