The Royal Family have given royal fans a behind-the-scenes look at exactly what happens before a state visit ahead of US President Donald Trump’s arrival in Windsor next week. On the Royal Family’s YouTube channel, Buckingham Palace’s in-house video team have given fans an insight like never before as Windsor Castle staff prepare for the president’s arrival on Wednesday.
The video is divided up to show how different areas of the castle prepare for the visit. This includes The Royal Mews, the garden team, the military and the kitchen staff. In The Mews, the video shows the work that is undertaken to ensure the horses are relaxed and fit for the state visit, especially in their role of bringing the Royal Family and their guests through Windsor town and to the castle’s Quadrangle.
This includes cleaning the horses and the carriages, and getting everything in the right place. The video also shows how the garden team at Windsor Castle prepare for such a visit, with the team making sure everything is immaculate both in the gardens, and inside the castle using floral displays.
As shown in the video, the garden team work closely with the kitchen by picking fruit to be used and giving the kitchen honey from the beehives.
The kitchen then tries to use as much seasonal produce as possible from the estate to host the famous state banquet. With a job of serving around 160 people, the kitchen team made up of around 20 chefs work hard to prepare a menu that is then approved by Their Majesties. They then work hard to prepare the food and be mindful of the country that is visiting, often giving a nod to this country in the menu.
Another team in the castle that has to make sure everything is ready ahead of a state visit is The Library team, who are responsible for selecting material and preparing an exhibition that tries to create a sense of shared past between the UK and the visiting country. This often involves historically significant material.
The last key preparation that takes place is by the military, who work hard and have to rehearse to provide a splendid reception to welcome visitors of the King. This includes having troops train in barracks and then bringing various people together to practice the overall choreography that includes music, mounted troops and foot guards.
The behind-the-scenes video, which sees each team in action, has been released just days before US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are set to step foot in the UK. The President and his wife will arrive in the UK on September 16, however the state visit will begin on September 17.
During their visit, the couple will be welcomed by Prince William and Princess Kate before enjoying a ceremonial welcome alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla.
The two royal couples and the Trumps will take part in a carriage procession through the town to Windsor Castle. They are also expected to attend a state banquet and spend time with Their Majesties.
Princess Kate is set to play a big role in the state visit as she is set to be joined by Melania for a separate engagement, which will see the women meet with Chief Scout Dwayne Fields, and members of the Scouts’ Squirrels programme.