What was meant to be a night of formality and celebration turned into a moment of subtle tension and viral commentary as former President Donald Trump delivered a speech during a state banquet at Windsor Castle. While some praised his words, others focused on what he left out — and how the British royals seemed to react.
On the evening of September 17, inside the grand St George’s Hall, Trump addressed a crowd of 160 guests, including King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Princess Kate. Calling the invitation “one of the highest honors” of his life, Trump offered personal thanks to the royal family and praised the King’s environmental and cultural efforts.
He spoke at length about Charles’s dedication to preserving Britain’s natural beauty, supporting artists, and planting trees, even joking about the King remembering the names of nearly 150 people. “Some of them had bad names like XYZ-Q3, and he knew every one of them,” Trump quipped, drawing mixed reactions from the room and online.
Trump’s praise expanded to Britain’s cultural legacy, referencing Shakespeare, Dickens, Kipling, and major figures like Newton and Locke. He connected that heritage to America’s founding principles, stating, “The British Empire laid the foundations of law, liberty, free speech, and individual rights virtually everywhere the Union Jack has flown — including a place called America.”
In a poetic moment, he described the U.S.-UK relationship as “two verses of the same poem,” and closed his toast with, “To one of the great friendships, to two great countries, and to His Majesty, King Charles III — a very, very special man.”
He also offered warm compliments to Prince William and Princess Kate, calling William a “remarkable son” and Kate “radiant, healthy, and beautiful.” However, many noticed the complete omission of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, which quickly sparked conversation across social media.
Users online speculated about the royal family’s body language. Some claimed King Charles looked uncomfortable, while others joked about Queen Camilla’s facial expressions. “Camilla with the side eye… lol,” one user posted. Others noted, “The Queen’s face says it all,” referring to moments when her smile appeared to fade.
Body language experts weighed in, with one describing Charles’s body language as warm and deferential despite protocol issues. Another expert observed signs of nervousness in the King during Trump’s troop inspection, suggesting discomfort at the break in tradition, while noting that Trump seemed unaware of the awkwardness.
A small yet notable moment occurred when Queen Camilla gently tapped Charles on the arm to include Melania Trump in the introductions — a rare, subtle correction that helped maintain decorum. Earlier that day, Prince William had introduced his father to Trump simply by saying, “This is my father,” before the families proceeded on a formal carriage ride through Windsor Estate.
Although the evening was filled with elegance and ceremony, it was the small missteps, the missing names, and the silent exchanges of glances that drew the most attention — turning the event into a spectacle that extended far beyond the banquet hall.
