Inside Trump’s Windsor Castle state dinner: what was on the menu, who attended, and why it mattered

Inside Trump’s Windsor Castle state dinner

US President Donald Trump's two-day state visit to the United Kingdom was greeted by thousands of protesters across London but at Windsor Castle, it was a matter of tradition, show, and diplomacy. The British establishment and the monarch staged a pageantry-packed ceremony to bestow upon Trump a sort of royal welcome that he has imagined for a long time. The opulent state dinner on Wednesday night at St. George's Hall was the highlight of the visit, symbolizing continuity in US-UK ties and the soft power of the monarchy on the world stage, the New York Times writes.

Seating and guest list

The fifteen-foot-dining table stretched an impressive 155 feet down the hallway, laden with crystal, fine china, and gleaming silverware. To the right of the secretary of state was Secretary of State Marco Rubio and King Charles III, to their right was President Trump and Catherine, Princess of Wales, a little ways down the line. Across from them stood Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Queen Camilla, Melania Trump, and Prince William. Guests from the royal family, politics, and business joined the event. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, News Corp's Rupert Murdoch, Apple executive Tim Cook, and OpenAI boss Sam Altman were present. Approximately 100 employees organized the service for 160 special guests.

A detailed menu

Carefulness went as far as the multi-course meal. The dish started with Hampshire watercress panna cotta, served alongside parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, a subtle but refined beginning. The main course consisted of organic Norfolk chicken ballotine en courgettes, served alongside a thyme and savoury-tasting jus, celebrating the finest of the current season's British produce. Dessert stole the show: vanilla ice cream bombe housed in Kent raspberry sorbet and softly poached Victoria plums served in chic portions to each of our guests.

Wines, spirits, and symbolism

Although President Trump is a teetotaller, the drinks list at the banquet reeked of symbolism and history. A 1945 vintage port was served to the guests, chosen to mark Trump's first term as America's 45th president. Serving a 1912 cognac Grande Champagne, marking the year Trump's mother was born, imparted an extra sombreness to the event. These choices filled the excesses of the evening with significance in terms of eras of personal and political significance.

A transatlantic cocktail discovery

Along with the feast, the banquet also featured a specially designed cocktail, the "Transatlantic Whisky Sour." The cocktail was a mix of Johnnie Walker Black scotch with marmalade and topped with pecan foam and toasted marshmallow on a star-shaped biscuit. The cocktail was specifically designed to symbolize the blending of British tradition with American taste, taking advantage of the diplomatic nature of partnership among the two shores of the Atlantic.

Symbolism of the event

The dinner was not only a banquet; it was a display of Britain's ability to accept pomp and convey an allied message. Anti-Trump demonstrations echoed in the streets outside Windsor, but inside the castle precincts the evening exuded stability, tradition, and respect for one another. Trump, who likes displays of rank and formality, discovered that the banquet gave the sort of ceremonial imprimatur that validated his state visit. For the government and monarchy of Britain, it served to remind them of their continued role in conducting world relations with ceremony and symbolism.