Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump were welcomed to Britain by Queen Elizabeth II on a state visit full of pomp and pageantry in 2019.
Mr and Mrs Trump were greeted by the late Queen at Buckingham Palace as the UK rolled out the red carpet for the former US president, who is now seeking re-election.
The Trumps’ official state visit came after they met the late Queen in 2018, only without the trappings of a state visit.
After their US Marine Corps helicopter landed in the garden of Buckingham Palace, Elizabeth II told the former First Lady it was nice to see her again as she met her on the palace steps.
King Charles and Queen Camilla, who were then the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, were also part of the welcoming party, with the former Prince of Wales asking Mr Trump: Are you doing well, Donald?”
The then future king later helped Mr Trump avoid a potential break of royal protocol, by guiding him down the palace steps ahead of the late Queen.
Lip reader, Tina Lannin, from 121 Captions, said Camilla told the Trumps: “Nice to meet you.”
Mr Trump is one of only three US presidents to have made a state visit to Britain during Elizabeth II’s reign, the others being Barack Obama and George W Bush.
The Republican’s presidential candidate was on a three-day state visit from June 3-5, with events including a tour of Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace state banquet and talks with then prime minister Theresa May in Downing Street.
During the palace banquet, Elizabeth II appeared to point out a difference in Mr Trump’s isolationist position and Britain’s stance. The former president has long been critical of the NATO military alliance.
Among Her Late Majesty’s remarks, she said: “After the shared sacrifices of the Second World War, Britain and the United States worked with other allies to build an assembly of international institutions, to ensure that the horrors of conflict would never be repeated.
“While the world has changed, we are forever mindful of the original purpose of these structures: nations working together to safeguard a hard-won peace.”
Fiona Hill, Mr Trump’s former adviser on Russia, wrote in her memoir that he viewed meeting the late Queen as the “ultimate sign” he had “made it in life”.
After Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, Mr Trump wrote on this Truth Social platform: “Melania and I are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
“Together with our family and fellow Americans, we send our sincere condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom during this time of great sorrow and grief.
“Melania and I will always cherish our time together with the Queen, and never forget Her Majesty’s generous friendship, great wisdom, and wonderful sense of humor. What a grand and beautiful lady she was—there was nobody like her!”