The Trump's State Visit to the UK, September 2025: Style Watch
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U.S. President Donald Trump and the First Lady, Melania, are currently on a state visit to the UK. The visit began on Tuesday night, the 16th of September, with the President and First Lady arriving at Stansted Airport. Melania stepped off Air Force One onto British soil, immediately engaging in sartorial diplomacy by wearing a quintessentially British fashion item—a tan Burberry trench coat. She styled the coat with its collar popped up, the belt artfully tied, and with black boots, while peeks of the classic Burberry check lining flashed as she walked.
Classic coat-dresses, suits, and statement hats
On Wednesday, the 17th of September, at the first official engagement with the Trumps at Windsor Castle, the King, Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales also engaged in some sartorial diplomacy, donning blues and reds respectively, which could be seen as a nod to the colours of both the British and American flags. Princess Catherine wore a deep, almost burgundy red Emilia Wickstead coat-dress, a matching Chanel bag, and a similarly hued hat with bows and a mesh veil. The Prince of Wales opted for a classic navy blue suit featuring a long-line coat with flap pockets and notch lapels. He chose a tie that perfectly matched the colour of his wife's dress.
King Charles harmonised with Queen Camilla, too. The Queen wore a sapphire blue dress and matching coat with beautiful tonal sequin detailing at the neck, front opening, and cuffs. She paired it with a coordinating wide-brimmed hat, cream gloves, and a cream basketweave bag. The King donned a deeper shade of blue in a classic single-breasted suit, but echoed the colour of his wife's dress in his patterned tie.
First Lady Melania, meanwhile, sported a timeless dark grey Dior skirt suit with an hourglass-shaped, high-necked jacket and a wide-brimmed, eye-shielding hat in a deep purple shade that complemented her husband's tie, showing subtle support for his visit's aims.
A State Banquet
Wednesday evening saw the hosting of a state banquet by the King and Queen. The Princess of Wales looked breathtaking in a Phillipa Lepley gown worn underneath a gold Chantilly lace evening coat featuring couched gold cording and hand-embroidered roses and other flowers. She completed the look with a blue sash, representing that she is a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, and the Lover's Knot tiara, once owned by Princess Diana.
Prince William wore the Windsor Uniform of a black tailcoat with a red collar, red cuffs, and gold buttons, along with a blue sash, the star of the Order of the Garter, the star of the Order of the Thistle, and a final star showing that he is a Great Master of the Order of the Bath.
Queen Camilla dressed in another sapphire blue ensemble, this time an evening gown by Fiona Clare. She completed her eveningwear with a sapphire tiara belonging to the late Queen Elizabeth II and a diamond brooch that once belonged to Queen Victoria.
First Lady Melania made a controversial choice for a white-tie event. She wore a vibrant yellow, off-the-shoulder, long-sleeved gown by Carolina Herrera featuring a thigh-high slit. Her waist was cinched with a bubblegum pink satin belt, and she accessorised with dangly diamond earrings. The dress could be seen as a little daring for a state banquet. President Trump, however, followed protocol by wearing full white-tie attire: a black tailcoat suit, a white horseshoe waistcoat, a white dress shirt, and a white bow tie.
What was your favourite look?
Did you enjoy the subtle (and not-so-subtle) sartorial diplomacy, especially as displayed by the Queen, Princess Catherine, and Melania Trump? Melania chose pieces by British, French, and American designers, while the royal ladies wore exclusively British designers and strongly displayed the tradition and continuity of royalty through their jewellery choices and evening regalia. Would you wear any of the outfits from these events? Which one was your favourite?
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