Camilla Jessen
Donald Trump was wined and dined at an extravagant state banquet on Wednesday evening at St George’s Hall in Windsor Castle.
From 1,452 hand-polished cutlery pieces to cocktails honouring family legacies, the Trumps’ state banquet in St George’s Hall was a masterclass in royal pageantry.
The Table
Palace staff began assembling the 50-metre (164ft) mahogany table nearly a week in advance.
The 42.32-metre (51.75-yard) table seated 160 guests and featured 1,452 pieces of hand-polished cutlery, 139 candles, and five glasses per guest.
Every place setting was measured precisely 18 inches apart, with staff using special shoes to carefully move along the table without disrupting the layout.
Floral and Decorative Extravagance
Elaborate floral arrangements in pink, purple, and yellow adorned the table in silver-gilt centerpieces.
Napkins were folded into Dutch bonnets, and every candelabra, plate, and glass was carefully placed.
Seasonal flowers were sourced from Windsor Castle and Windsor Great Park, with blooms typically donated afterward to hospices, elderly care homes, and shelters.
A Menu Fit for Diplomacy
King Charles and Queen Camilla oversaw the menu, ensuring personal touches honoring both the Trump family and the British royal family.
The Starter
According to the DailyMail, the meal began with a Hampshire watercress panna cotta, served with Parmesan shortbread and a quail egg salad.
The Main Course
The main course featured an organic Norfolk chicken ballotine, wrapped in courgettes and accompanied by a thyme and savory-infused jus.
The Dessert
For dessert, guests were served a vanilla ice bombe with a Kentish raspberry sorbet interior and lightly poached Victoria plums.
The Wine List
The wine list included Wiston Estate, Cuvée 2016, Domaine Bonneau du Martray, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2018, Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 2000, and Pol Roger Extra Cuvée de Réserve 1998.
After dinner, guests were served Warre’s 1945 Vintage Port in honor of Trump’s position as 45th and 47th U.S. President.
Special Drinks
Special drinks were included as tributes. A Hennessy Grande Champagne Cognac from 1912 honored Trump’s late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, while Bowmore Queen’s Cask 1980 paid homage to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Bespoke Cocktail for the Occasion
In a tradition started by King Charles, a bespoke transatlantic Whiskey Sour was created, blending Johnnie Walker Black with marmalade, crowned with pecan foam, and garnished with a toasted marshmallow on a star-shaped biscuit.
Trump, a teetotaller, did not partake in the alcoholic beverages.
Service and Coordination
Nineteen stations were set up around St George’s Hall, each manned by four staff members including a page, footman, under butler, and wine butler.
A traffic-light system was used to coordinate the serving of courses.
Detailed diagrams and instructions accounted for dietary requirements and preferences for royals and other VIP guests.
Attendees and Seating
The banquet included guests invited for cultural, diplomatic, and economic links to the U.S. King Charles was seated next to Trump, with Melania Trump and Queen Camilla opposite.
Other members of the royal family, including the Prince of Wales, were expected to attend, while Princess Alexandra and the Duke of Kent were absent.
Key political figures such as Sir Keir Starmer were attending, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey boycotted in protest of Trump’s stance on Gaza.
This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, which may have used AI in the preparation
