A state banquet is the grand centrepiece of any official visit — a dazzling evening filled with formal speeches, royal toasts, ceremonial music, and an abundance of refined dishes and fine wines. It’s diplomacy expressed through pageantry and gastronomy, designed to impress and honor the visiting head of state.
Held in the majestic St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle, the atmosphere blends the grandeur of a medieval feast with the theatrical feel of a fantasy film set. Around the room, staff in ornate uniforms move with military precision, every detail orchestrated to perfection. The tables themselves are laid out with such immaculate order — five glasses at each setting — that the symmetry alone seems almost intimidating.
During the lavish banquet held in honor of Donald Trump, 160 distinguished guests dined with extraordinary precision — more than 1,400 pieces of cutlery laid out across the long tables. The menu, printed in French for tradition’s sake, featured a series of refined courses:
- A starter of Hampshire watercress panna cotta, paired with Parmesan shortbread and a delicate quail egg salad.
- The main course: organic Norfolk chicken, wrapped in ribbons of courgette and served with a thyme- and savory-infused jus.
- Dessert arrived as a vanilla ice cream bombe, its center filled with Kentish raspberry sorbet, accompanied by gently poached Victoria plums.
The wines chosen were equally impressive: a 2016 Wiston Estate Cuvée, a 2018 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru from Domaine Bonneau de Martray, a 2000 Monte Bello from Ridge Vineyards, and a 1998 vintage Pol Roger Champagne.
Even the after-dinner drinks carried symbolic weight. A 1945 port — marking Trump as the 45th president — was served, though he himself is a non-drinker. Guests were also offered a 1912 cognac, a nod to the birth year of Trump’s mother, who was born in Scotland.
To complement the fine wines, a signature drink was created for the occasion — the “Transatlantic Whisky Sour.” It fused Johnnie Walker whisky with a sharp burst of marmalade, topped with pecan foam and finished with a toasted marshmallow balanced on a biscuit.
What the evening noticeably lacked, however, was the sparkle of celebrity culture. Unlike some past banquets that featured global stars, Windsor’s grand dinner for President Trump drew no film icons, music legends, or sporting royalty. Even figures like Sir David Beckham or Sir Elton John, familiar faces at royal events, were absent.
Instead, the guest list leaned heavily toward politics and tech. Apple CEO Tim Cook took a prominent seat beside Tiffany Trump, while Rupert Murdoch, the powerful media proprietor, was placed next to Morgan McSweeney, a senior adviser to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Considering Trump is currently engaged in a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit against Murdoch’s outlets in the US, one can only imagine the conversation at that table.
Like at a wedding, guests must be checking the nameplates around the ornately-decorated table to see who they’re sitting beside.
The “head” of the table is in the middle for the Windsor state banquet, with the King and president in the centre of a dining table that is 47m long.
President Trump, as the guest of honour, was placed between King Charles and Catherine, the Princess of Wales.
Trump’s place card carried the formal title “President of the United States of America”, printed entirely in capital letters — a style that felt strikingly similar to the tone of his online posts.
Directly opposite sat the First Lady, identified simply as “Mrs Trump.” She was positioned between Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales at the long state banquet table.
The dinner guest list produced some notable pairings around the long banquet table. Princess Anne found herself seated with the American ambassador, Warren Stephens, who also had Chancellor Rachel Reeves nearby.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was positioned alongside Blackstone chief executive Stephen Schwarzman, one of the wealthiest financiers in the world. Across the room, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch had the chance to exchange thoughts with Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI and one of the most influential figures in artificial intelligence.
High-ranking members of both governments were present. The United States was represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, while Britain’s side included Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy.
Sports and technology were not left out either: golf legend Sir Nick Faldo and Olympic champion Dame Katherine Grainger added an athletic touch, while Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang highlighted the presence of Silicon Valley’s top tier.
The grandeur of St George’s Hall is unmistakable. Portraits of monarchs line the walls, while gleaming suits of armour stand guard, and overhead, the ceiling is decorated with the heraldic shields of the Knights of the Garter.
The hall itself is relatively modern in one sense — it was reconstructed following the devastating Windsor Castle fire in 1992 — yet it still carries the aura of centuries of royal tradition.
Reporters travelling with the American delegation noted that the evening’s music selection nodded to Donald Trump’s personal tastes. The playlist featured Puccini’s Nessun Dorma (“none shall sleep”) alongside the Rolling Stones’ classic You Can’t Always Get What You Want choices that might have carried subtle undertones for the politicians gathered in the room.
English