President Donald Trump’s ceremonial carriage procession during his state visit to the United Kingdom on September 17, 2025, has drawn sharp criticism from royal commentators who compared the private tour to a carnival attraction rather than a dignified royal ceremony.
Richard Eden, a writer for the Daily Mail and host of the Palace Confidential podcast, expressed particular disdain for the procession through Windsor Castle grounds, which was conducted away from public view. Eden characterized the event as embarrassing and likened it to “a fairground ride to entertain the U.S. president.”
The procession took place on Wednesday morning, September 17, after Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived at Windsor for what marks an unprecedented second state visit for a sitting U.S. president. The couple was greeted by Prince William and Kate Middleton near Marine One before meeting King Charles and Queen Camilla outside the castle.
During the carriage ceremony, Trump rode alongside King Charles in the lead carriage while Melania accompanied Queen Camilla in the second vehicle. The procession made its way through the Windsor estate toward the castle, where a guard of honor awaited the president’s arrival.
Eden doubled down on his criticism when other social media users suggested security concerns necessitated the private nature of the event. He responded by emphasizing that Britain should not function as a theme park, reinforcing his position that royal carriage processions derive their significance from public visibility.
Social media users echoed similar sentiments about the closed-door ceremony. One critic compared riding in a carriage through enclosed private parkland to a Disneyland ride, arguing that the taxpayers were funding what amounted to treating Trump like a toddler.
The criticism stems from the deviation from traditional royal carriage processions, which typically occur in full public view during significant occasions such as weddings or events like Royal Ascot. Instead, only saluting members of the military and Royal Guard observed the carriages as they traversed the estate.
The state visit featured extensive ceremonial elements beyond the controversial carriage ride. The welcoming ceremony included participation from approximately 1,300 British Armed Forces members, 120 horses, and 200 musicians. Trump received a guard of honor from three regiments of the British Army and heard a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Gift exchanges took place privately between the royal couples and the Trumps. Trump presented Queen Camilla with a vintage Tiffany diamond-and-ruby flower brooch and gave King Charles a replica of President Dwight Eisenhower’s sword, symbolizing the U.S.-U.K. alliance during World War II. The monarchs reciprocated with a leather-bound book commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the Union Jack that flew over Buckingham Palace on Trump’s inauguration day.
The visit was not without controversy beyond the procession criticism. Protesters made their presence known through various demonstrations, including projecting images of Trump with Jeffrey Epstein onto Windsor Castle walls. Thames Valley Police arrested four individuals in connection with these projection stunts on suspicion of malicious communications.
The royal family appeared to embrace the ceremonial aspects despite the criticism. Their official social media accounts shared photographs and videos from the visit, including moments from the greeting ceremony and formal banquet held in St. George’s Hall.
Trump’s enthusiasm for the visit was evident in his pre-departure comments, when he praised King Charles as elegant and described both the king and Queen Camilla as longtime friends. The president also expressed particular appreciation for staying at Windsor Castle, calling it “the ultimate” venue.
The visit concluded with a state banquet featuring 160 guests from government, finance, technology, and media sectors.