Trump loves bling, royal pomp and UK goes all out to flatter him

It is the sort of experience you just can’t buy.

The carriages are being polished, the family silver is being laid out, and diamonds are being dusted off as King Charles prepares to offer a royal welcome to Donald Trump for what will be the highlight of the US president’s unprecedented second state visit to Britain.

Hundreds of soldiers, gardeners and chefs are putting the finishing touches on their preparations to make sure the president and first lady Melania Trump get the full royal treatment. But it is a spectacle with a purpose: to bolster ties with a world leader known for a love of bling at a time when his “America first” policies are putting pressure on trade and security arrangements globally.

The second leg of the visit will take place on Thursday, when Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer meet at Chequers, the 16th-century red-brick mansion in the Chiltern Hills northwest of London that serves as the official country estate of British prime ministers.

The government hopes a technology deal to be signed during the trip will underline that the transatlantic bond remains strong despite differences over Ukraine, the Middle East and the future of Nato.

The backdrop for day one will be Windsor Castle, an almost 1,000-year-old royal residence with gilded interiors, crenellated towers and priceless artworks.