Esther Imonmion
Windsor is awash with red, white, and blue this week as preparations get underway for former President Donald Trump’s second state visit to the United Kingdom. From 17 to 19 September, Trump will be hosted at Windsor Castle by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, accompanied by his wife, Melania.
The visit marks an unprecedented occasion: Trump becomes the first US president to be invited for a second state visit, following his initial trip in 2019 when he was hosted by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
While many residents and visitors expressed excitement over the visit, hoping it could strengthen UK–US relations, others voiced dissatisfaction. In Windsor, a souvenir shop near the castle displayed a mock commemorative plate featuring Trump and the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein as a form of protest, reflecting some of the controversy surrounding the trip.
Tensions are expected to rise when a large demonstration takes place in London on the first day of the visit. The invitation for Trump’s return was personally delivered by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the White House in February, underlining the significance of the occasion.
As Windsor’s streets fill with US flags and the town prepares for the arrival of a former president, locals and visitors alike are witnessing history in the making—though opinions remain sharply divided.