Inside King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Lavish State Dinner Attended by President Donald Trump, More

It was royal “soft power” in action. Prince William and Princess Kate greeted President Donald Trump, 79, and first lady Melania Trump, 55, as they stepped off Marine One at Windsor Castle on Sept. 17, kicking off what British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called an “unprecedented” second state visit (the U.S. president’s first was in 2019).

As Trump shook Kate’s hand, he repeatedly gushed, “You’re beautiful, so beautiful,” then told William, “We have lots to catch up [on].” Charles and Queen Camilla, 78, welcomed the Trumps next, escorting them in a pair of gilded coaches to the castle for a private lunch and tour of items from the Royal Collection, according to People.

A glittering white-tie state dinner followed in the castle’s 1,000-year-old banquet hall where Kate — resplendent in cream and gold lace Phillipa Lepley couture and the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara — was seated next to the clearly enamored president, who called the cancer survivor “so radiant, so healthy, so beautiful” in a toast that also praised William, per People. “His Majesty has also raised a remarkable son,” he said, calling the visit “truly one of the highest honors of my life.”