OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
10:52 AM – Wednesday, September 17, 2025
President Donald Trump was honored with a military performance and flyover while on an unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom with First Lady Melania Trump.
The occasion was unprecedented since Trump is the first U.S. president to ever be invited for a second state visit to the United Kingdom. A “state visit” is a formal type of visit hosted by the British monarch, involving maximum royal pageantry such as carriage procession, state banquet, and military honors.
Early on Wednesday, the GOP president and first lady sat beside King Charles II and Queen Camilla on the grounds of Windsor Castle to enjoy the Beating Retreat musical military performance. The Trumps had already joined the Royal Family for a carriage procession, to visit the late Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb and exchange gifts.
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The Associated Press reported that more than 1,600 service members would be taking part in the military display, a record-breaking number in the modern era.
The ceremony, which dates back to the 17th century, concluded with a flyover by nine Hawk T1 jets from the Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team, known as “the Red Arrows.” As they passed over Windsor Castle’s East Lawn, they emitted trails of red, white and blue smoke, colors shared by both the U.S. and UK’s flags.
Four U.S. F-35 jets were scheduled to participate in the ceremony as well, but they later canceled due to adverse weather conditions.
Outside the castle, 1,500 police officers were deployed to protect the Trumps from thousands of left-wing demonstrators making their way toward Parliament to protest the GOP president’s visit.
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