'We’re buttering up to him': Here's how Windsor is pulling out all the silver to charm Trump and seal UK deals

Windsor Castle gears up for tiaras, trumpets and tough talks on tariffs, Ukraine

Inside Windsor Castle, staff are polishing a mahogany dining table that stretches nearly 50 meters, half the length of a football pitch. Outside, grooms buff the hooves of horses that will pull the royal carriages. Military guards drill until every thwack of a rifle and every bootstep lands in perfect unison.

This is Britain’s ultimate diplomatic stagecraft. And this week, all the silver, ceremony and state dinners are for one man: U.S. President Donald Trump, who is making history as the first world leader ever to receive a second full state visit.

Why this visit matters

The spectacle, tiaras, antique candelabras, scarlet-coated guards, is not just about pomp. It’s a calculated attempt to charm Trump, whose America First instincts continue to unsettle allies. As Associated Press reported, Britain is betting that the soft power of the monarchy can help secure trade breaks, investment commitments, and tighter defence cooperation.

Royal historian Robert Lacey put it bluntly: “We’re buttering up to him.”

Starmer’s high-stakes gamble

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who personally hand-delivered the king’s invitation during a February visit to Washington, is counting on the goodwill to unlock a steel and aluminium tariff deal still stuck in negotiation.

His government also hopes to finalise a tech partnership and a civil nuclear agreement, with announcements expected alongside Trump’s meetings at Chequers on Thursday.

“The UK-U.S. relationship is the strongest in the world,” Starmer’s spokesperson told reporters. “This week we are delivering a step change in that relationship.”

But the visit comes with baggage. Starmer last week sacked Peter Mandelson, his ambassador to the U.S., over links to Jeffrey Epstein — a diplomatic embarrassment just days before the state visit.

Investments, deals and symbolism

Ahead of Trump’s arrival, Britain announced £1.25 billion ($1.69 billion) in U.S. investment from PayPal, Bank of America and others. Nvidia, OpenAI and CoreWeave are also set to pledge billions into UK data centres as part of the tech deal, according to sources cited by AP.

For Trump, who famously gilded the Oval Office and has spoken of building a White House ballroom, the royal treatment is tailor-made. A gun salute, a carriage procession, and a state banquet on 200-year-old silverware offer the kind of spectacle that plays to his taste for grandeur.

Pageantry as soft power

Royal historians point out that Britain has used monarchy as its most potent tool of diplomacy for centuries. Queen Elizabeth II hosted leaders as varied as Nelson Mandela and Nicolae Ceauşescu. Now, King Charles III is carrying that baton.

“The tiaras will be out in force,” said historian Hugo Vickers. “It will all look very splendid.”

As AP reported, the pageantry helps cultivate goodwill that can make leaders “more open to entreaties” on thornier issues, this time, tariffs and Ukraine.

Looking ahead

The real test comes Thursday, when Trump and Starmer sit down at Chequers to hammer out trade details and align on Ukraine. If the royal spectacle works as intended, Britain may walk away with more than flattering headlines: lower tariffs, deeper tech cooperation, and renewed defence ties.