Trump UK visit: President has state banquet with Queen as Labour announces Corbyn will speak at protest
US leader an ‘egregious example of growing far-right threat’, says Sadiq Khan after Twitter spat
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Protesters have denounced Donald Trump as “frightening and dangerous” and claimed his state visit is “an invitation for his ideology to be imported” to the UK, during a dramatic first day of the US president's second state visit to the country.
During a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II greeted the president, and reminded those in attendance of the "close and longstanding friendship" between their two countries — and appeared to rebuke Mr Trump's so-called America-first ideology that has threatened once close alliances and shaken the international community.
"I am so glad that we have another opportunity to demonstrate the immense importance that both our countries attach to our relationship," the Queen said.
The itinerary for Mr Trump going forward includes meetings with business leaders, a tour of historic British buildings, and trips to Portsmouth and Normandy — with the latter coming on the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
The Queen, during her remarks, used that historic moment in the Second World War to reinforce the importance of the US-UK relationship.
Every outfit Melania Trump has worn for the UK state visit
Show all 15"On that day — and on many occasions since — the armed forces of both our countries fought side-by-side to defend our cherished values of liberty and democracy," she said.
"As we face the new challenges of the 21st Century, the anniversary of D-Day reminds us of all that our counties have achieved together," she continued, addressing the kinds of international coooperation in the post war years that Mr Trump appears to have disregarded as president. "After the shared sacrifices of the Second World War, Britain and the United States worked with other allies to build an assembly of international institutions to ensure that the horrors of conflict would never be repeated."
But, nearby in London, protesters denounced the president who had lashed out at mayor Sadiq Khaan as his trip loomed.
“It’s one thing to tolerate it, it is something else to promote it,” 46-year-old Hada Moreno told The Independent outside Buckingham Palace of Mr Trump's ideological stance.
But the US president’s backers were also present, calling him “a hero”. One said: “After Brexit we will need him for trade as well as security.” It came after Mr Trump lashed out at London’s mayor on Twitter, branding him “terrible” and a “stone-cold loser”.
Mr Trump and his wife Melania dined with the Queen at Buckingham Palace. The pair were met by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and will also take a tour of Westminster Abbey. Observers were curious as to how the Prince of Wales, a keen environmentalist, would get along with the fossil fuel-loving president.
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Poundland says it is selling off old Donald Trump merchandise for as little as 50p.
"I doubt Trump's ever going to come back and we need to get rid of it all," said Tim Goalen, the retailer's logistics director.
As part of Mr Trump's three-day visit to Britain, he and first lady Melania Trump will be hosted at Buckingham Palace for a state banquet with the Queen, writes Sabrina Barr.
While the programme for state visits can vary depending on the foreign head of state in question, the royal banquet is a traditional aspect of the proceedings.
The Trumps will return to the Palace this evening for a banquet that will consist of a four-course meal, more than 2,000 pieces of silver-gilt cutlery and a toast to the queen.
While this is the first time Trump and his wife Melania have experienced a royal British banquet, the queen is used to such occasions: it is the 113th time Elizabeth II has hosted a state visit.
State visit invitations are extended by the government, but the queen acts as host. The Queen will give a speech and a toast and Mr Trump will also be expected to say a few words ahead of the banquet.
Theresa May will not hold private talks with Donald Trump during his State Visit, but Downing Street has denied that the White House axed a meeting, writes Rob Merrick.
At least one cabinet minister will join “a delegation” that will meet with the White House team in No 10, alongside a “range of officials”, it has emerged.
The prime minister’s spokesman rejected a BBC report that White House removed a one-to-one meeting from a schedule it circulated – insisting there was “nothing unusual” about the set up.
Nevertheless, the absence of private talks will be seen as evidence that Mr Trump views Ms May as a lame duck leader about to leave office, amid suggestions he could find time to meet Boris Johnson.
Ms May will also treat the president to a private tour of the Churchill War Rooms, the underground bunker where Winston Churchill led the country during the Second World War.
The prime minister's husband Philip May and first lady Melania Trump will also attend a Downing Street garden party.
A Number 10 spokesman insisted the two leaders would have time for informal private talks during Mr Trump's visit.
Previous occupants of Number 10 and the White House have held private one-to-one talks before - including Tony Blair and George W Bush, whose meeting at the Crawford Ranch in the run-up to the Iraq War became the subject of intense focus after the conflict.
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner watched as the president inspected the guard of honour earlier this afternoon.
They were perched on a balcony inside Buckingham Palace.
The president's daughter and son-in-law had grandstand seats (Toby Melville/AFP)
Pro- and anti-Donald Trump protesters briefly faced off outside Buckingham Palace as the US president arrived for a three-day state visit, writes Tom Batchelor.
A woman wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap became engaged in a heated row with another member of the crowd over Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election.
The argument started after the woman began shouting accusations of bias and “fake news” towards the media tents.
The Trumps and the royal family have finished their lunch and are now visiting a special collection in the palace picture gallery of items "of historical significance to the United States".
After that, at 3pm, the president and first lady will leave the palace for their tour of Westminster Abbey. They will lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier and depart at 3.50pm for tea at Clarence House.
The Queen is showing the Trumps - including Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner - around the picture gallery display set out for the state visit.
The Queen with the Trumps in the Buckingham Palace picture gallery (Sky News)
From their expressions, things seem to be going smoothly.
Donald Trump and the Queen in Buckingham Palace (Sky News)
McDonald's in Whitehall is not selling milkshakes today, Tom Batchelor reports.
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