Windsor: US President Donald Trump and Britain's King Charles III appeared to be in a 'grateful' mood after a military ceremony and Red Arrows flypast at Windsor Castle. Trump spoke to Charles several times during Beating Retreat on the East Lawn on Wednesday afternoon, and even patted him on the arm.
According to Ghana News Agency, it is the first time the ceremony has been performed at an incoming state visit. The king and Trump were seated in chairs next to Queen Camilla and First Lady Melania Trump, alongside an audience including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria, as well as British and US military personnel. The Massed Bands of the Royal Marines, the Coldstream Guards, the Royal Air Force, and the Old Guard Fifes and Drums from the US Army Band participated in the event.
During the display, the king appeared to point out the Old Guard Fifes and Drums to Trump as the band moved towards them from the right. The quartet engaged in conversation throughout the display, with Camilla seen at one point laughing and holding on to her hat amid windy conditions. After the 30-minute ceremony, the Red Arrows flew over, prompting the king, queen, US president, and first lady to look up and applaud. Trump smiled, leaned towards Charles, spoke to him, and patted him on the arm.
Following the display, the pair conversed with military personnel seated on their left, while Camilla and Mrs. Trump spoke to those on the other side. Beating Retreat is a military spectacle and ceremony that originated in the early years of organized warfare, symbolizing the end of the day when camp gates were closed and ceremonial flags were lowered.
Lieutenant Colonel Simon Soskin of the Grenadier Guards, who planned the ceremony, told the PA news agency: "We were asked to put on a spectacular performance to end the day of welcoming, and so we pulled in our three bands, one for each service, invited the Americans, sprinkled in some bagpipers and it came together very well." When asked what the king and US president said to the gathered military personnel, Lt Col Soskin noted, "They took a few moments to say hello. I said hello to the president on the way past, which I like because my family are American, so I'll be telling my parents later. They were grateful, I think, the President was really pleased to see the junior American service personnel."
