On Wednesday, President Donald Trump will roll into Windsor Castle in regal style — seated in a royal carriage, flanked by mounted escorts, and greeted by the music of three military bands. For King Charles III, the pageantry carries a subtle echo of history, a gesture that traces back nearly four decades.
In 1988, when he was still the Prince of Wales, Charles accepted an invitation for tea at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Palm Beach estate. The visit granted Trump a touch of royal legitimacy, even if Charles opted to spend the night at a horse ranch some distance away instead of under Trump’s roof.
Now, Trump’s return to the United Kingdom offers a reversal of roles. A man who has long expressed deep admiration for the British monarchy will himself receive a rare mark of esteem — an official welcome punctuated with guards of honor, ceremonial splendor, and the favor of a royal family he has consistently held in genuine regard.