King Charles to host Trump at Windsor amid tight security following Charlie Kirk assassination

It comes during heightened tensions following the assassination of right-wing US political commentator Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead in Utah.

King Charles is set to host the US president and his wife, first lady Melania Trump, at Windsor Castle from September 17 to 19, where they will be honoured with a ceremonial welcome and state banquet.

A 24-hour-a-day policing operation will be implemented in the Berkshire town during the event, with a temporary order restricting the airspace from September 16 - when the state visit rehearsal is to take place - until September 18.

Armed police from across Britain are being deployed to London and Windsor to strengthen the ranks of local forces during the three-day visit.

Armed officers will be patrolling the streets with Armed Response Vehicles (ARVs) ready to respond in case of heightened threat, Thames Valley Police said last week during a media briefing at the force’s training center in Sulhamstead, Berkshire.

Key events

Donald Trump will arrive for his ’unprecedented’ second state visit tomorrow. Here is what he will do during his two days in Britain.

September 16:

Trump arrives with his wife Melania in the evening.

They will be hosted on the Windsor Castle estate. 

There won’t be any public-facing events on the first day.

September 17:

The Trumps will spend the day with the Royals including William and Kate, attending a flyover from the RAF’s Red Arrows, a carriage procession in Windsor, and a special Guard of Honour.

The US president and his wife will also visit the tomb of the late Queen and lay a wreath.

The day will culminate in a grand state banquet at Windsor Castle, during which both Trump and King Charles are expected to give speeches.

September 18:

Trump will be greeted by another guard of honour as he meets Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Lady Victoria at Chequers.

The two leaders will attend a bilateral meeting and a business reception hosted by the Chancellor, during which trade deals between the UK and US are set to be unveiled, as well as billions in investment into the UK by tech executives forming part of Trump’s delegation.

Sir Keir and Lady Victoria will bid farewell to the Trumps at Chequers, as the state visit comes to an end.

"We have considered anything from a low to a high-threat incident, and it’s a very comprehensive security operation as a result," police sergeant and operational firearms commander Daniel Hatfield said.

"Every single state visit or policing operation of this nature comes with its own merits, and every operation or plan is constructed individually."

Sergeant Hatfield added: "It’s not the first time a president of the United States has visited Windsor, and relationships with our American colleagues are well forged, well practiced, so it makes planning a security operation like this much easier."

Officers will have access to a wide range of equipment and weapons, including Tasers, baton guns which propel rubber bullets, Glock 17 sidearms, Lewis Machine & Tool rifles, and shotguns, which are used on dangerous animals.

"We have considered anything from a low to a high-threat incident, and it’s a very comprehensive security operation as a result," police sergeant and operational firearms commander Daniel Hatfield said.

"Every single state visit or policing operation of this nature comes with its own merits, and every operation or plan is constructed individually."

Sergeant Hatfield added: "It’s not the first time a president of the United States has visited Windsor, and relationships with our American colleagues are well forged, well practiced, so it makes planning a security operation like this much easier."

Officers will have access to a wide range of equipment and weapons, including Tasers, baton guns which propel rubber bullets, Glock 17 sidearms, Lewis Machine & Tool rifles, and shotguns, which are used on dangerous animals.

Additionally, police officers will have access to overalls, gloves, respirators, and ballistic helmets "for anything that is CBRN-related - chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear," Sergeant Hatfield said.

"That is something which hopefully is very unlikely to happen, but if there were ever to be a firearms threat as well as CBRN, this is what we would deploy with our weapons system," Sergeant Hatfield added.

The equipment will be kept in ARV vans, alongside a first-aid kit and ballistic protection shields, police said.

The trip next week will be Mr. Trump’s second state visit to the UK - an unprecedented gesture towards a US president. He was previously honored with a state visit in 2019.

His first state visit to the UK saw thousands of people take to the streets in London in opposition, and protests are also expected to take place next week.

The Stop Trump Coalition is set to stage a mass demonstration in central London on the first day of the trip, with a further protest planned near Windsor Castle.

Sophia Martinez