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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesKing Charles III and U.S. President Donald Trump delivered speeches at a state banquet in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle on 17 September 2025, during Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom. The King emphasized the transformation of the countries’ relationship from revolutionary-era conflict to modern partnership; Trump praised their ties and offered his own historical framing.
Where to read both speeches
The Royal Family published the King’s address as “The King’s speech at the US State Banquet” on 17 September 2025. The U.S. Government Publishing Office’s transcript of the banquet remarks, dated the same day, includes both the King’s remarks and Trump’s speech.
The banquet brought together guests including diplomats, sports figures and technology leaders, according to the Royal Family’s event account.
What King Charles said
The King welcomed Trump and First Lady Melania Trump by presenting the United States and the United Kingdom as countries with an enduring bond, shaped by shared history, cultural exchange and cooperation. He invoked the approaching 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026 to reflect on how former adversaries had become partners.
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“The ocean may still divide us, but in so many other ways, we are now the closest of kin,” Charles said. He also described the relationship as grounded in “unshakeable trust in our friendship and in our shared commitment to independence and liberty.”
The address looked ahead to future generations and concluded with a toast to the President, the First Lady and the people of the United States. Its central movement was from a difficult shared past toward continued partnership.
What Donald Trump said
Trump praised the US-UK relationship and their histories. He also made a sweeping claim about the legacy of the British Empire, saying: “The British Empire laid the foundations of law, liberty, free speech and individual rights virtually everywhere the Union Jack has ever flown, including a place called America.” That was Trump’s characterization of history in a ceremonial speech, not a neutral or independently established historical conclusion.
He also joked about making a second state visit: “This was the second state visit, and that’s the first, and maybe that’s going to be the last time, I hope it is actually.” The full wording appears in the GPO transcript.
How the speeches differed
| Theme | King Charles III | Donald Trump |
|---|---|---|
| Historical framing | Set the relationship against the shift from revolutionary-era conflict to modern partnership, with the 2026 Declaration anniversary as a reference point. | Praised the British Empire’s influence on law, liberty, free speech and individual rights, presenting this as his historical interpretation. |
| Relationship | Emphasized kinship, trust, shared purpose and cooperation. | Praised the closeness of the United States and United Kingdom. |
| Ceremonial note | Closed with a toast to the President, First Lady and American people. | Joked about whether his second state visit might be his last. |
The speeches took place amid broader policy tensions. The Associated Press reported that the state-visit pageantry unfolded while U.S. policies were putting pressure on trade and security arrangements. That context is distinct from the ceremonial language of the speeches themselves.
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