Behind Castle Walls, the Rich and Powerful Celebrate Trump

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The seating chart at the state dinner for President Trump was a cross-section of the rich and the powerful hoping to get on his good side.

As beggars’ banquets go, this one was pretty rich.

There they sat, side-by-side, some of the wealthiest, most influential and best connected people in the world, all together at one long table inside a nearly-thousand-year-old castle. The guest of honor was in the middle of the table, wearing white tie, looking happier than ever. He was being treated like a king by an actual king.

The state dinner that King Charles III hosted for President Trump on Wednesday night at Windsor Castle seemed like a new apex for Mr. Trump: a glittering showcase of the powerful outdoing themselves to get (or remain) on the good side of a president whose second term has been marked by demonstrations of brute power. Those demonstrations have increasingly taken the form of retribution against perceived enemies at home and tattered alliances abroad.

“The bond between our two nations is indeed a remarkable one,” said Charles. “In renewing our bond tonight, we do so with unshakable trust in our friendship and in our shared commitment to independence and liberty.”

The president seemed supremely pleased by the whole thing; he didn’t look the least bit bothered when the king used his speech to gently prod about environmental issues and the need to support Ukraine.

Mr. Trump got up and cooed: “It’s a singular privilege to be the first American president welcomed here.” (Other U.S. presidents have been welcomed at Windsor — including Mr. Trump in his first term — albeit not at a state dinner. Usually these dinners happen at Buckingham Palace back in London, but that old pile is undergoing renovations.) » | Shawn McCreesh and Maggie Haberman | Shawn McCreesh reported from Windsor Castle and Maggie Haberman from London. | Wednesday, September 17, 2025

“The banquet table was also lined with power brokers from the worlds of technology, finance and media.” Take a peek here.

TATLER: All the Best Photographs from the Star-studded State Banquet at Windsor Castle for French State Visit

The King and Queen hosted a dazzling star-studded state banquet at Windsor Castle in honour of President Macron of France. President Emmanuel Macron and Mrs Brigitte Macron are currently in Britain in the first visit State Visit made by France in 17 years.
View the stunning photos on TATLER here.

The King's Speech at the French State Banquet

Jul 9, 2025 | 🇫🇷🇬🇧 ”My whole life, and during all of my 36 visits to your country, I have been in awe of France’s extraordinary attributes and achievements."

Yesterday, during a State Banquet at Windsor Castle, The King welcomed @EmmanuelMacron and Mrs. Macron with a speech celebrating a thousand years of shared history and culture between the people of Britain and France.


Read His Majesty’s speech here.

King Charles Holds a State Banquet for Emmanuel Macron’s UK Visit

Jul 8, 2025 | King Charles hosted the French President Emmanuel Macron at a glittering state dinner at Windsor Castle.

Guests included the Prince and Princess of Wales. The main dish - Rhug Estate Chicken with Norfolk Asparagus and Tarragon cream - washed down with French wine.

Mr Macron used the dinner to pay tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth.


EXPRESS: Inside King Charles and Queen Camilla’s lavish three-course State Banquet menu - in full »

ITV NEWS: State banquet: Who is on the guest list and what's on the menu? »

RHUG ESTATE: Rhug Estate chicken graces Royal State Banquet for French President »

King and Macron Toast 'Ever Closer' UK-France Ties at State Banquet

A screenshot taken from this article. | Photo: PA MEDIA
BBC: The King said relations between the UK and France are growing "ever closer" as he hosted Emmanuel Macron at a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle.

The French president spoke of his confidence in ties between the countries as the pair dined alongside members of the Royal Family and some 160 guests, including Sir Mick Jagger and Sir Elton John.

Macron and wife Brigitte were earlier greeted at RAF Northolt by the Prince and Princess of Wales to kick off their state visit, before meeting the King and Queen in Windsor, while Macron also gave a speech in Parliament.

The three-day visit is the first by a French president since 2008, and the first by a European Union political leader since Brexit.

Starting his state banquet speech in French, the King welcomed Macron before remarking that much has happened since his own royal tour of France in 2023.

The UK and France "have stood ever closer since then", he said.

King Charles spoke of the deep cultural, political and historic ties between the two nations before turning to joint cooperation in facing cross-border threats in an uncertain world of "terrorism, organised crime and cyberattacks". » | Sean Coughlan, Royal correspondent | Jacqueline Howard, BBC News | Reporting from Windsor | Tuesday, July 8, 2025

French Audit Cautions Élysée over €475k Cost of King Charles Dinner

THE GUARDIAN: Versailles banquet among lavish spending in 2023 that has plunged president’s office €8m into red

The Versailles banquet aimed to improve political ties, with dignitaries downing almost £36,000-worth of drinks. Photograph: Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty Images | Screenshot taken from the accompanying article
The French president’s office spent nearly €475,000 (£400,100) on a dinner for King Charles last year, the country’s top audit court said in a report cautioning about high spending.

In September 2023, King Charles attended a lavish state banquet at the Palace of Versailles attended by more than 150 people, part of a “soft power” visit aimed at improving ties between London and Paris.

The guests dined on lobster and crab, French poultry marinaded in champagne and a gratin of French ceps (a wild mushroom). Vintage wines and champagnes were on offer, while the dessert was a French macaron with lychee and rose sorbet and raspberry compote. » | Lili Bayer | Tuesday, July 30, 2024

King Hosts Japanese Royals at Glittering State Banquet

Jun 25, 2024 | King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at a lavish State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, marking the start of their three-day UK visit.

The royals donned their finest attire, with Queen Camilla in a Fiona Clare dress and Burmese ruby tiara. King Charles and Naruhito wore formal suits, while Masako looked elegant in cream with the Chrysanthemum tiara.

Report by Matthew Covell.

Stars Join King Charles at Versailles Banquet during French State Visit

THE GUARDIAN: Trip designed in part as show of friendship to reset UK-French relationship after Brexit years

Queen Camilla and King Charles with Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday evening. Photograph: Stéphane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images
King Charles was welcomed at a lavish state banquet at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday night, at the start of a state visit to reinforce the renewed UK-France relationship after the near total collapse in trust during the Boris Johnson years after Brexit.

In Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors, the famed 17th-century gallery built by the Sun King Louis XIV to project the power and majesty of the French monarchy, King Charles told the French president, Emmanuel Macron: “Your generosity of spirit brings to mind how my family and I were so greatly moved by the tributes paid in France to my mother, the late Queen … You said that she had touched your hearts – and it was she who held France in the greatest affection.”

He added: “I would like, if you would allow me, to raise a toast to President and Madame Macron and to the French people, as well as to our entente cordiale – a sustainable alliance. Whatever lies ahead, may it endure, faithful and constant, for centuries to come.” He was accompanied by Queen Camilla, who wore a blue silk crepe dress and matching cape by Dior, with diamonds inherited from the late Queen. » | Angelique Chrisafis in Versailles | Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Queen and Donald Trump Make Speeches at State Banquet | 5 News

The Queen's Speech at the French State Banquet

Jun 6, 2014 Her Majesty gives a speech at the State Banquet for the French State Visit at the Élysée Palace in Paris. The visit, the fifth official State Visit by The Queen to France, is taking place over three days in Paris and Normandy.

A French Dinner for the Queen - in the Kitchens of the Élysée Palace

Aug 9, 2019 • On the occasion of D-Day commemoration ceremonies, the Queen of England is paying an official state visit in France and attends a banquet as the guest of honor at the official residence of the President of the Republic of France, the Elysée Palace.

This documentary describes the event from the kitchens of power, the true vitrine of French gastronomy which has been on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010.

We follow the work of the teams of the famous chef Guillaume Gomez, from the conception of the menus to the selection of products with the best French producers as well as the installation of the reception hall. A true challenge for a prestigious guest. | Views on YouTube: 1,735,889

State Banquet at Buckingham Palace for the Spanish State Visit