Embarking on the first day of his state visit to the UK, Donald Trump received a ceremonial welcome from the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
The US president viewed the Royal Collection, laid a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey and took tea with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House, before a state banquet on Monday evening.
Here are the talking points and highlights from the first of three days Mr Trump is spending in the UK.
Tweet of the day
.@SadiqKhan, who by all accounts has done a terrible job as Mayor of London, has been foolishly “nasty” to the visiting President of the United States, by far the most important ally of the United Kingdom. He is a stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London, not me……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2019
The day began with a moment of animosity before the president had even landed, as Mr Trump launched a Twitter tirade at Sadiq Khan, branding the London mayor a “stone cold loser” but adding he was “very much looking forward” to the visit.
The statement came after Mr Khan described the president as “just one of the most egregious examples of a growing global threat” and compared the language he has used to that of the “fascists of the 20th century” on Sunday.
Misspelling the mayor’s name, Mr Trump tweeted: “@SadiqKhan, who by all accounts has done a terrible job as Mayor of London, has been foolishly “nasty” to the visiting President of the United States, by far the most important ally of the United Kingdom. He is a stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London, not me……
“…Kahn reminds me very much of our very dumb and incompetent Mayor of NYC, de Blasio, who has also done a terrible job – only half his height. In any event, I look forward to being a great friend to the United Kingdom, and am looking very much forward to my visit. Landing now.”
A close inspection
It’s fair to say he looked reasonably impressed.
Picture of the day
However it appears the president actually clenched her hand rather than shaking it with a flat hand.
“Donald Trump is more inhibited when he’s shaking hands with the Queen,” said Ms James. “He was leaning forward from a distance, with a tentative pawing of her hand.”
Funniest moment
Mr Trump was left scratching his head when asked if he recognised a polished pewter statue of a horse – a piece Mr Trump gifted to the monarch at tea with her at Windsor Castle in June last year.
Mr Knox joked: “But one horse looks very much like another.”
Quote of the day
Signing under the Congressional Medal of Honour in the Abbey’s nave he wrote: “Thank you so much. This has been a great honor. Special place.”
Both Mr and Mrs Trump put their signatures beneath the words.
Video moment
Standing at the grave, the President touched his hand on the wreath and kept his eyes closed during the prayer.
Gaffes of the day
A photographer’s flash diffuser fell off their camera and landed at the feet of Charles, who promptly picked it up and returned it, but not before offering his own quote of the day.
“Looks like an ice cream,” the royal remarked.
Mr Trump briefly and gently put his left hand out behind the monarch. The Queen seemed unperturbed.
Banquet highlights
Music included Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran and Tonight from West Side Story, and it is thought that it took four days to set the table, with each guest allowed 18 inches for their place setting.
“Freedom, sovereignty, self-determination, the rule of law and reference for the rights given to us by almighty God.”
The Queen said in her speech: “As we face the new challenges of the 21st century, the anniversary of D-Day reminds us of all that our countries have achieved together.”
