Trump UK visit live: President hails ‘priceless and eternal’ US-British bond at lavish state banquet with King

The King said he has “cherished the close ties” between the UK and US, particularly during his visits to the States, and even joked he could have ended up part of the Nixon family in the 1970s.

He said: “For my part, I have always admired the ingenuity of the American people; and the principles of freedom which your great democracy has represented since its inception. Throughout my life, from my very first visit to the United States in 1970 and over 20 visits since that time, I have cherished the close ties between the British and American peoples.

“In fact, had the media succeeded in the 1970s in their own attempt at deepening the special relationship, I myself might have been married off within the Nixon family.”

Charles was referring to an occasion in 1970 when, then 21, he spent time with then-president Richard Nixon’s daughter Tricia at social occasions including a dinner and a baseball game.

He added: “From York to New York, from Birmingham, England, to Birmingham, Alabama, we are united by a common language and shared heritage. The many thousands of people from each of our countries who have made the other their home have enriched our societies immeasurably — a fact that gives me the greatest pride.

“Our cultural connections, too, continue to flourish, with our actors, musicians, writers and television presenters prospering in the hearts of transatlantic audiences.”

The Independent’s Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:

Donald Trump’s glowing praise for the UK in his speech at the state banquet will be music to the ears of the prime minister.

He still faces a potentially dicey press conference with the unpredictable US President tomorrow.

But hearing the Republican declare that special did “not begin” to do justice to the relationship between the UK and the US will be enough to convince the Labour leader and his advisers that they were justified in deciding to woo him with an unprecedented second state visit.

In a speech that referenced Winston Churchill and Charles Dickens, President Trump talked about his admiration and respect for the UK and said that being hosted by the royal family was “one of the highest honours of my life”.

He described the bond between the US and the UK as “priceless and eternal”.

For his part, King Charles dropped some political hints into his speech, backing Ukraine and talking about green issues. He also suggested the UK-US trade deal could “go even further”.

The UK-US “special relationship” took centre stage in both the King and Donald Trump’s state banquet speeches.

The King began the banquet by celebrating the UK’s “enduring bond” with the US, which he said had made both countries “safer and stronger through the generations”.

Mr Trump went on to call his second state visit one of the “greatest honours” of his life as he thanked the royal family for welcoming him.

He described the bond between the US and the UK as “priceless and eternal”.

His speech continued: “We’re joined by history and faith, by love and language and by transcendent ties of culture, tradition, ancestry and destiny.

“We’re like two notes in one chord or two verses of the same poem, each beautiful on its own, but really meant to be played together.”

US President Donald Trump said the Princess of Wales was “so radiant and so healthy”.

Giving a speech at a state banquet at Windsor Castle, Mr Trump said: “His Majesty has also raised a remarkable son in His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales. Really amazing.

“We’ve gotten to know you and I think you’re going to have an unbelievable success in future.

“Melania and I are delighted to visit again with Prince William and to see Her Royal Highness, Princess Catherine, so radiant and so healthy, it’s so beautiful. It’s really a great honour, thank you.”