UK: Queen hosts US president at Buckingham Palace

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - U.S. President Donald Trump attended a state banquet Monday evening at Buckingham Palace as part of a three-day visit to the U.K.

With members of the royal family present, Trump praised Queen Elizabeth II as a "great, great woman" in a speech at the event.

"As we honor our shared victory and heritage, we affirm the common values that will unite us long into the future: freedom, sovereignty, self-determination, the rule of law and reference for the rights given to us by Almighty God," he said.

"From the Second World War to today, Her Majesty has stood as a constant symbol of these priceless traditions.

"She has embodied the spirit of dignity, duty, and patriotism that beats proudly in every British heart," he added.

The Queen also delivered a speech to the Trumps.

“Mr. President, I am delighted to welcome you and Mrs. Trump to Buckingham Palace this evening, just 12 months after our first meeting at Windsor Castle.”

Noting the challenges of the 21st century, she cited the anniversary of the D-Day invasion during World War II as a reminder of all that the two countries have achieved together.

“Britain and the United States worked with other allies to build an assembly of international institutions to ensure that the horrors of conflict would never be repeated.

“While the world has changed, we are forever mindful of the original purpose of these structures: nations working together to safeguard a hard-won peace,” she said.

“Of course, it is not only our security which unites us, but our strong cultural links and shared heritage.

“Mr. President, as we look to the future, I am confident that our common values and shared interests will continue to unite us. Tonight we celebrate an alliance that has helped to ensure the safety and prosperity of both our peoples for decades, and which I believe will endure for many years to come.”

- Protests

The banquet was boycotted by some politicians, including Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Parliament Speaker John Bercow.

A group of protesters gathered outside Buckingham Palace during the banquet to react to the treatment Trump was receiving.

But a larger protest is expected to see thousands of Londoners gathering in Trafalgar Square for most of tomorrow when Trump will meet Prime Minister Theresa May.

Accompanied by first lady Melania Trump and his entourage, the president was welcomed at Stansted Airport by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt amid tight security in the early hours of Monday.

After briefly stopping at the U.S. ambassador’s residence near Regents Park, the American party arrived at Buckingham Palace, where the Queen officially welcomed the Trumps.

An 41-gun salute was held in honor of the visiting president as historic cannons were fired.

After having lunch with members of the royal family, Trump was given a tour of the palace before having tea with Prince Charles.

Trump’s visit comes days before May’s departure from the top office.

The visiting president is expected to hold talks with May, including a discussion on the post-Brexit U.K.-U.S. trade relationship and other national and international issues.

- Controversy

Trump’s visit has been described as the most controversial visit by a U.S. president to the U.K.

He caused controversy prior to his visit with his comments on Brexit -- the U.K.’s top agenda item for the past three years – and on the country’s domestic politics after openly supporting former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who launched his official campaign Monday to replace May as prime minister.

He created more controversy when he called London Mayor Sadiq Khan “a stone cold loser” in a tweet he wrote shortly before landing in London.

Khan’s office responded shortly afterwards.

“This is much more serious than childish insults which should be beneath the President of the United States,” said his spokesperson.

“Sadiq is representing the progressive values of London and our country warning that Donald Trump is the most egregious example of a growing far-right threat around the globe, which is putting at risk the basic values that have defined our liberal democracies for more than 70 years.”

Trump also angered the pro-European Union camp when he said Brexit party leader Nigel Farage should be holding Brexit negotiations with the EU.

He is also under fire for calling the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, “nasty” in an interview with the Sun tabloid ahead of his U.K. visit after learning she had criticized him during a 2016 interview on The Nightly Show with Larry Whitmore.

Trump had been criticized previously after retweeting anti-Muslim videos from a far-right group called Britain First, a move described by May as “wrong.”

The invitation by May to visit her country was extended to Trump during her visit to the U.S. on Jan. 27, 2017, sparking criticism in the U.K. due to the president’s controversial travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries.

A petition calling on the British government to cancel the invitation was signed by over 1.85 million people last year. It said any official state visit should be axed "because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty, the Queen".

It also said Trump's "well documented misogyny and vulgarity" disqualified him from meeting the Queen or other British royals.

The government responded to the parliamentary petition, saying it believed the American leader should "be extended the full courtesy" of an official reception.

Khan’s Labour Party on Monday said Corbyn has decided to address the anti-Trump protest tomorrow.

“Tomorrow's protest against Donald Trump's state visit is an opportunity to stand in solidarity with those he's attacked in America, around the world and in our own country - including, just this morning, @SadiqKhan,” Corbyn tweeted earlier Monday.

The protest, organized by various campaign groups, is expected to see large numbers in attendance.