Welcomed at Windsor, not in London streets
US President Donald Trump’s historic meeting with Queen Elizabeth saw minor protocol breaches—and demonstrations that drew some 250,000 protesters in London.
WINDSOR, ENGLAND— US President Donald Trump met Britain’s Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle on Friday but the 92year-old monarch was forced at one point to walk around him, after Trump halted abruptly during a ceremonial inspection of the guard.
The controversial president walked ahead of the queen while inspecting troops and did not bow when he met her a couple of times. But except for some minor protocol breaches, the meeting went smoothly.
Trump’s first visit to Britain as president was not the full state visit he was originally promised, but he was heralded by military bands on his arrival at Windsor, before he and first lady Melania went into the castle for tea with the queen.
Although she greeted them with a smile, the queen had earlier glanced at her watch as she waited for their arrival.
Trump was gracious about the British sovereign in a newspaper interview, where he attacked Prime Minister Theresa May’s strategy on Brexit.
“For so many years she has represented her country, she has really never made a mistake. You don’t see, like, anything embarrassing. She is just an incredible woman,” Trump told The Sun newspaper.
Buckingham Palace said no other royals will be meeting Trump, whose previous comments about the royals had been less tactful, including boasting that he would have slept with Diana, princess of Wales “without even hesitation,” and saying that Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge had “only herself to blame” for being photographed while sunbathing topless.
‘Never been stronger’
In Aylesbury, Trump played down his extraordinary attack on Britain’s plans for Brexit, praising May and insisting bilateral relations “have never been stronger.”
Trump had earlier warned that May’s plans for close ties with the European Union would “kill” a future US trade deal, although he later appeared conciliatory following talks at May’s country retreat of Chequers.
“Whatever you do is OK with us, just make sure we can trade together, that’s all that matters,” he told May at a press conference later.
Just hours earlier, The Sun tabloid published a bombshell interview with Trump in which he suggested the prime minister’s Brexit proposal was not what voters wanted, and that Boris Johnson, who quit as foreign minister this week in protest at the plan, would make “a great prime minister.”
His interview drew outrage among British politicians and fired up demonstrations in Lon- don, where organizers estimated upwards of 250,000 people took to the streets.
‘No fascist USA!’
Chanting “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA!,” the protesters flew a huge crying Baby Trump balloon outside the Houses of Parliament.
Later on Friday, Trump was due to fly to Scotland where he will spend two days at a golf course he owns, before heading to Helsinki for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.