Nine things you might have missed from Trump’s UK state visit

From a carriage procession, state banquet and the meeting of leaders, Donald Trump’s second state visit to the UK has been jam packed. 

Since touching down in London late on Tuesday, all attention has been on the US president and first lady, Melania.

With a warm welcome from Sir Keir Starmer, a lavish royal display, and protests in London against the visit, the trip yielded a mixed reception – although the US president was shielded from the ‘realities of life’ and people outside of the Windsor walls, according to Sky News’ International Affairs Editor Dominic Waghorn.

As the unprecedented visit draws to a close, here are nine things you may have missed during Mr Trump’s time in the UK.

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The handshake that breached royal protocol – or did it?

Greeting the King and Prince of Wales with a firm handshake – something the US president has become known for – Mr Trump also touched the monarch and second-in-line to the throne on the arm.

Mr Trump was captured again, this time putting his hand on the King’s back, while they took seats before the Red Arrows flypast.

While Buckingham Palace makes it clear that touching the King is not a breach of official protocol, it is an accepted custom not to initiate physical contact with a member of the Royal Family.

It was clear neither Charles nor William took offence to the act.

The first lady’s eye-covering hat

Keeping in line with the first lady’s past fashion choices, Melania Trump arrived in Windsor wearing a purple hat that covered her eyes from virtually every angle.

The hat was similar to one Mrs Trump wore to her husband’s inauguration in January – that time a navy and white hat which was designed by Eric Javits.

Despite the similarities, the designer of the hat for the UK state visit has yet to be publicly disclosed.

‘Watch the sword’

While inspecting a line of honour guard at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, the King playfully nudged Mr Trump on the arm, telling him to “watch the sword” as one member of the King’s Guard shifted position, swinging the blade near the US leader.

The moment was captured by Sky News’ royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills.

The president’s joke

During the state banquet in Windsor Castle’s St George’s Hall, both the King and Mr Trump made speeches.

Hailing the state visit as “one of the highest honours of my life” Mr Trump also made a joke, saying he hopes he is the last US president to be given an unprecedented second state visit.

“This was the second state visit, and that’s the first, and maybe that’s going to be the last time, I hope it is actually,” he said to muffled laughter in the room.

Queen Nixon?

In his own remarks at the state banquet, the King paid reference to some of the biggest issues of the day, referencing trade, Ukraine, and environmentalism.

But he also recalled a story about another US president – who he claimed tried to set the then-Prince of Wales up with his daughter in the 1970s.

After the King about how “I cannot help but wonder what our forebears from 1776 would make of this friendship today,” he talked up the special relationship between the US and UK, saying: “Throughout my life… I have cherished the close ties between the British and American people.

“In fact, had the media succeeded in the 1970s in their own attempt at deepening the special relationship, I myself might have been married off within the Nixon family!”

Teetotal Trump

Mr Trump is famously teetotal, having told Fox News after winning the presidential election for the first time that he has “never had a drink”. And it appears during the state banquet the president stuck to water.

In pictures showing guests raising a glass, the contents of Mr Trump’s is noticeably different to those around him.

It remains unknown if a non-alcoholic version of the banquet’s special cocktail – a Transatlantic Whisky Sour – was made for the US leader.

Beekeeper Kate

When the Princess of Wales and the first lady joined a group of Scouts in the grounds of Frogmore Cottage, the youngsters were given honey sandwiches, which were made by bees kept by Kate at Anmer Hall, her Norfolk home.

Keeping on theme, Melania also brought a jar of White House honey for each of the children.

The Queen is also a keen apiarist (someone who looks after beehives) – and she keeps bees at Raymill, her retreat in Wiltshire.

Arrest (and release) over Epstein projections

As Mr Trump flew into the UK, projections of him and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle.

The huge pictures were beamed from a nearby hotel, and the nine-minute film included several pictures showing the US president with Epstein.

A 60-year-old from East Sussex, a 37-year-old from Kent, a 36-year-old from London, and a 50-year-old also from London were detained over the incident on Tuesday night. All four were then released on bail on Thursday.

Thames Valley Police said the men had been bailed until 12 December while they investigate “possible offences including malicious communications and public nuisance”.

‘What is your answer to that?’

The final question in a joint press conference between Mr Trump and Sir Keir came from Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby, who asked the two leaders about the recently sacked UK ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson.

But Mr Trump quickly moved the answer to Sir Keir.

“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,” he said before turning to Sir Keir.

“What is your answer to that?”

Starmer answered: “Some information came to light last week, which wasn’t available when he was appointed.

“And I made a decision.”

Lord Mandelson was fired last Thursday after it emerged that he had continued his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein after his first conviction in 2008, having encouraged him to fight for early release.