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18 September: Donald and Melania Trump officially depart the UK after two-day stay, more


All the royal news from 18 September, as US President Donald Trump continues his second state visit to the UK and his wife, Melania, heads out with Princess Kate


Donald Trump (R) gestures as he and US First Lady Melania Trump (L) board Air Force One at Stansted Airport, in Stansted, north of London, on September 18, 2025, to leave at the end of the US President's second State Visit© Getty
HELLO!
Matthew MooreSenior Evening Writer
Beatriz ColonNew York Writer - New York
Updated: September 18, 2025
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Lifestyle Writer

Today's agenda

Good morning.

Today is another busy day for the royal family as President Trump concludes his state visit to the UK following his ceremonial welcome and attendance at the State Banquet yesterday.

This morning, the President and First Lady will formally bid farewell to the King and Queen at Windsor Castle before he goes to meet with British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

Later, the Queen and First Lady will tour Queen Mary’s Dolls' House and the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. Afterwards, the First Lady will join the Princess of Wales at Frogmore Gardens to meet the Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields, and members of the Scouts’ Squirrels programme as they learn about nature to achieve their 'Go Wild' badge.

Elsewhere, Princess Anne will open the MCFT Technical Academy Training in Reading, Berkshire, will visit Citizens Advice East Suffolk on the occasion of its 60th Anniversary at St Margaret's House, and will visit Mwanaka Fresh Farm Foods in Cambridgeshire. 

Stay tuned...

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Senior Evening Writer

Last night's State Banquet

One of the highlights from last night's events was the State Banquet. The event featured glamorous dresses and tiara moments, as well as touching speeches from the monarch and the President of the United States. Click the link to see all the best moments.

Kate Middleton clinking glasses with Michael Boulos, while Donald Trump does the same with King Charles© Getty Images
Princess Kate in her Lover's Knot tiara
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Senior Evening Writer

Trump prepares to leave

President Trump will soon be leaving Windsor Castle and he is due to head to Chequers, where he will spend the day at Chequers with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in tough political negotiations.

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Senior Evening Writer

See the moment Donald Trump and King Charles said farewell

King Charles and Donald Trump have now parted ways, with the pair having a firm handshake before saying farewell. See the moment in the video below...

WATCH: Donald Trump and King Charles part ways

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Senior Evening Writer

Trump's sweet words to King

Before they left each other's company, President Trump had some more kinds words to say about the monarch. "Thank you very much, everybody," he told reporters. "He's a great gentleman and a great King."

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Senior Evening Writer

Camilla and Melania's solo engagement

While President Trump is at Chequers, Melania has remained with Queen Camilla where the ladies were escorted by Mr. Tim Knox, the director of the Royal Collection, to Queen Mary’s Dolls' House.

Melania Trump in a leather dress and Queen Camilla in a white dress© Getty Images
Melania and Camilla carried out a solo engagement
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Senior Evening Writer

The dollhouse

The dolls' house was designed in the 1920s and was built for Queen Mary of Teck. Contained inside its rooms are a miniature library, which contains works from Arthur Conan Doyle and A. A. Milne.

A dolls' house belonging to the late Queen Mary© Getty Images
The Dolls' House is so gorgeous
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Senior Evening Writer

Trump arrives at Chequers

Marine One has landed at Chequers, the country estate owned by the British Prime Minister. Issues on the table will include ongoing support for Ukraine and tariffs on British goods.

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Senior Evening Writer

Camilla and Melania's talk

On their solo outing, Camilla and Melania met Elizabeth Ashby, the Curator of Books and Manuscripts.The Queen and the First Lady then walked to the Royal Library to view treasures from the Royal Collection.

Queen Camilla, Melania Trump and a lady looking at a tiny book© Getty Images
Melania examined some of the house's tiny books
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Senior Evening Writer

Back to school

The duo's visit coincided with a visit from a group of schoolchildren who were writing and illustrating miniature books as part of an art project.

Queen Camilla in a white dress with a young child© Getty Images
The pair met with schoolchildren
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Senior Evening Writer

Library visit

The next engagement took the pair into the Royal Library where they viewed incredible treasures, including a poem penned by the late Queen Elizabeth I and an annotated copy of William Shakespeare's Second Folio, which was owned by King Charles I.

Melania Trump and Queen Camilla walking in a library© Getty Images
The engagement ended in the Royal Library
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Senior Evening Writer

Trump meets Starmer

As he arrived at Chequers, President Trump was greeted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria. Victoria looked gorgeous in a green dress, and Donald was seen shaking hands with Keir as they meet.

Victoria Starmer standing with Keir Starmer and Donald Trump© Getty Images
Keir Starmer was joined by his wife to greet President Trump
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Senior Evening Writer

Trump's thoughts on Banquet photo

Before leaving Windsor Castle, President Trump and the King shared some words, with the US President highlighting their official photo from last night's State Banquet.

Getting the monarch to laugh, Trump said: "I looked at the picture we took last night… But you were more serious than me… She [Melania] said, 'You're smiling' and I said 'Yeah, I like it when I smile.'"

Britain's Queen Camilla, Britain's King Charles III, US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump pose for a photo as they attend a State Banquet at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on September 17, 2025, during the US President's second State Visit. US President Donald Trump arrived in Britain for an unprecedented second State Visit, with the UK government rolling out a royal red carpet welcome to win over the mercurial leader.© Getty Images
President Trump drew attention to a photo ahead of the State Banquet
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Senior Evening Writer

Trump's tour of Chequers

Ahead of the political talks, PM Keir Starmer showed President Trump around the country home.

Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump walking around Chequers© Getty Images
Sir Keir showed President Trump around
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Senior Evening Writer

Separate breakfasts

Although they dined together last night, this morning the King ate breakfast separately from the Trumps. The reason is entirely innocent, as it's tradition for the monarch to eat breakfast away from his guests.

King Charles standing with Donald Trump© Getty Images
The pair didn't dine together in the morning

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Website Editor

Kate and Melania's outing

Princess Kate and Melania's joint engagement marks a historic first for the US First Lady. Her office told HELLO! that Melania is really looking forward to the engagement, calling it "absolutely" the highlight of her visit to the UK. The pair are visiting Frogmore Gardens to join Chief Scout Dwayne Fields and members of the Scouts' Squirrels program. They'll help the children learn about nature to earn their 'Go Wild' badge, with activities like leaf stamping and identifying bug houses.

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Senior Evening Writer

Special presents

The Princess of Wales and Melania have hosted a group of Scouts from Lewisham at Frogmore Gardens. And the pair came with gifts, with Kate supplying sandwiches with honey from her Norfolk home of Amner Hall, while Melania presented the kids with pots of White House honey.

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Senior Evening Writer

Matching ladies

Kate and Melania were seen matching in Ralph Lauren outfits as they arrived for their engagement. The First Lady looked stunning in a chestnut suede colour safari jacket style with stone color trousers from Loro Piana, Roger Vivier chestnut color flat shoes with signature gold buckle.

WATCH: See the moment Princess Kate and Melania Trump arrived for outing

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Senior Evening Writer

Having a laugh

The Princess was seen laughing with the First Lady as they arrived for their engagement. We wonder what was said!

First Lady Melania Trump (R) and Catherine, Princess of Wales tour the grounds of Frogmore Cottage where they met members of the Scouts' Squirrels programme, during the State visit by the President of the United States of America and U.S. First Lady Melania Trump© Getty Images
Kate had a good laugh with the First Lady
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Senior Evening Writer

Fun with the children

Kate and Melania spoke with members of the Scouts and were blown away by some of the drawings that the children had produced.

 First Lady Melania Trump and Catherine, Princess of Wales speak with members of the Scouts' Squirrels programme in the grounds of Frogmore Cottage, during the State visit by the President of the United States of America and U.S. First Lady Melania Trump© Getty Images
Kate and Melania were out despite the weather
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Senior Evening Writer

Melania's fashion last night

The FLOTUS looks absolutely gorgeous as she enjoys the final day of the state visit, and she also looked radiant at last night's State Banquet. Relive her bold choice here...

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Senior Evening Writer

President's courteous moment

At last night's State Banquet, the President was seated next to the Princess of Wales. The politician even mentioned the royal in his speech and during the dinner, he was seen making a corteous gesture towards her. Discover more about this here...

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Senior Evening Writer

Melania's a natural

Melania was such a natural with all of the children and was seen holding the hand of a young girl while also allowing another to sit on her lap. How sweet!

Melania Trump at a table of children with one sitting on her lap© Getty Images
Melania got stuck in with the events
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Senior Evening Writer

Royal split

The State Visit isn't the only interesting piece of royal news happening today. Reportedly, the Duke of Kent's son, Lord Nicholas Windsor, has separated from his wife, Paola Doimi de Lupis Frankopan. Paola was absent from the Duchess of Kent's funeral on Tuesday and it's been said that divorce proceedings have started. Get the full story here...

A photo of Lord Nicholas Windsor and his wife Paloa© Getty Images
Lord and Lady Nicholas Windsor have been married since 2006
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Senior Evening Writer

Stuck-in royal

As ever, the Princess of Wales got hands-on during the outing. She was seen kneeling in the grass with the kids as they showed off their artworks.

Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales joins a group of Squirrels from the Scout Association taking part in activities at Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estate, in Windsor, on September 18, 2025© POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Kate enjoyed her time out
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Senior Evening Writer

Kate's fashion details

Although she's paired with Melania with a Ralph Lauren skirt, the Princess of Wales also wore a jacket from ME+EM and a knitted vest from the same brand.

Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales joins a group of Squirrels from the Scout Association taking part in activities at Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estate, in Windsor, on September 18, 2025© POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Kate went with an ME+EM and Ralph Lauren outfit
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Senior Evening Writer

Fun times

As their time with the children came to an end, Kate and Melania joined the children as they played with balls on a parachute.

Kate Middleton and Melania Trump playing with a parachute with a group of children© Getty Images
Everyone had a fun time
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Senior Evening Writer

Kate's brother's pride

The royals have been earning plaudits from how they've hosted the state visit and with the State Banquet. And the Princess of Wales has earned a special mention from her brother, James, see the sweet message here...

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Senior Evening Writer

Trump speaks of "unbreakable bond"

During a press conference to business leaders with Sir Keir, President Trump said that there was an "unbreakable bond" between the UK and the US.

Donald Trump and Keir Starmer giving a conference© Getty Images
Donald Trump and Keir Starmer gave a joint conference
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A private tea

It's been confirmed by HELLO!'s Royal Editor that Donald Trump and the King had a private tea in the King's Drawing Room after the Beating Retreat ceremony. 

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