Donald Trump has arrived at Chequers to finalise a £150 billion trade and technology investment agreement with Sir Keir Starmer, following an unprecedented night of royal pageantry at Windsor Castle.
The US President departed Windsor this morning after spending the night as a guest of King Charles III, marking the conclusion of ceremonial festivities that saw him become the first American leader to receive two state visits to Britain. Mr Trump was greeted with another guard of honour as he met the Prime Minister and Lady Victoria Starmer at the Buckinghamshire country estate.
The Business and Trade Department confirmed agreements with major US companies would create over 7,600 “high quality” jobs across all regions of the UK. Officials described the package as reflecting “the scale of ambition shared by both nations,” with technology giants including BlackRock, Alphabet, Microsoft, NVIDIA and Palantir set to announce multi-billion pound investments.
Royal Send-Off and Business Focus
Earlier this morning, the President shook hands with King Charles and Queen Camilla as he departed Windsor Castle, whilst First Lady Melania Trump remained behind to tour the Royal Library with the Queen. The departure followed a glittering state banquet attended by 160 guests, where Mr Trump described the UK-US bond as “priceless and eternal.”
During his toast at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Hall, the President praised what he called a “singular privilege,” noting he was the first American president to receive two state visits. “This is truly one of the highest honours of my life, such respect for you and such respect for your country,” he told the King.
The bilateral meeting at Chequers brings together many of the business leaders who attended Wednesday night’s banquet, including Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, Apple CEO Tim Cook, OpenAI’s Sam Altman and NVIDIA chief Jensen Huang.
Press Conference and Sensitive Questions
The leaders are scheduled to appear before the media at 2:25pm, in what could prove the most challenging moment of the state visit. Questions are expected about Lord Peter Mandelson, who was sacked as Britain’s ambassador to Washington last week over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The dismissal came after emails emerged showing Mandelson told Epstein “I think the world of you” and offered support whilst the financier faced criminal charges. In a 2003 birthday album for Epstein, Mandelson had written a note calling him “my best pal.”
Mr Trump’s own connections to Epstein have also generated headlines, with the President dismissing as a “hoax” a handwritten birthday note and sketch of a woman’s body bearing his signature that appeared in the same album.
Investment Package Details
The centrepiece of today’s announcement involves what officials are calling a “golden age” in energy partnerships, including significant investments in civil nuclear projects. Small modular reactors are expected to help power new artificial intelligence data centres, with a joint US-UK project announced by Starmer on Monday.
Several technology deals are set to be finalised, with sources suggesting the total investment could reach £150 billion when fully implemented. The agreements cover sectors from artificial intelligence and quantum computing to biotechnology and clean energy.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle expressed optimism that a deal on aluminium and steel tariffs could also be secured, though the BBC reported that proposed elimination of tariffs on UK steel exports had been put on hold indefinitely. The UK’s steel industry, worth £370 million in exports to America, had hoped for relief from the 25 per cent tariffs imposed during Trump’s first term.
Political Pressures
The state visit comes at a crucial time for Sir Keir Starmer, whose government has faced mounting challenges including two ministerial resignations in recent weeks. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner quit over a house tax scandal, triggering a major cabinet reshuffle that has left the Prime Minister’s authority weakened.
Foreign policy discussions are expected to include Ukraine, where Starmer has sought to maintain US support despite Trump’s frustration with NATO allies continuing to purchase Russian oil. The President recently hosted Vladimir Putin in Alaska but has not implemented new sanctions over Russia’s refusal to engage in peace negotiations.
Protests and Security
Thousands of protesters gathered in central London on Wednesday, marching from Regent Street to Parliament with banners reading “No to racism, no to Trump.” The Stop Trump Coalition organised demonstrations involving around 50 different groups, including climate activists, anti-racism campaigners and pro-Palestinian protesters.
Four arrests were made after protesters projected images of Trump with Epstein onto Windsor Castle’s walls. Metropolitan Police deployed 1,600 officers across the capital, though crowd numbers were significantly lower than during Trump’s 2019 visit.
Windsor Spectacle
Wednesday’s ceremonial welcome featured the largest military display for a foreign leader in living memory, with 1,300 military personnel and 120 horses participating. The RAF Red Arrows performed a spectacular flyover trailing red, white and blue smoke, whilst 200 musicians performed the centuries-old “Beating Retreat” ceremony.
The state banquet saw the Princess of Wales wearing the Lover’s Knot tiara, seated next to the President, who at one point was captured on video tucking in her chair. King Charles used his speech to emphasise environmental protection, telling Trump that both nations must ensure future generations can experience “natural treasures.
Looking Forward
As negotiations continue at Chequers, both governments are keen to demonstrate tangible benefits from the special relationship. Trump told reporters before departing Washington that whilst a trade deal had already been agreed in May, the British “would like to see if they could get a little bit better deal.”
The unprecedented second state visit – no other US president has received such an honour – represents a significant diplomatic investment by Britain as it seeks to secure favourable treatment amidst Trump’s broader tariff policies. Officials hope the combination of royal pageantry and business announcements will strengthen bilateral ties at a time when both nations face economic headwinds.
James Roscoe, who replaced Mandelson as interim ambassador following last week’s dismissal, is expected to play a key role in finalising trade details. The veteran diplomat and former communications chief to Queen Elizabeth II faces the delicate task of rebuilding diplomatic relations following the Epstein scandal.
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Image Credit:
Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets US President Donald Trump – White House bilateral, 27 February 2025 — photo by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street, licensed under OGL 3.0 (UK Crown copyright).
