‘Trump would love a crown on his head’: Windsor residents on the US president’s arrival

The Independent

Trump's state visit: American flags, armed police, and tourists swarm Windsor CastleCredit: Luke Reevey/The Independent

Transcript

00:00Trump would love to have a crayon loose head.

00:02That makes me happy to see the American flags.

00:04If they're up because Trump's coming, then no.

00:06Donald and Melania Trump have arrived in the UK.

00:09And on Wednesday, they'll head 20 miles west of London to here, the picturesque town of Windsor.

00:15They'll be greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales before a formal welcoming from the King and Queen.

00:20A royal salute will then be fired on the east lawn of Windsor Castle, where the President and his wife are staying.

00:26After lunch, they'll lay a wreath on Queen Elizabeth II's tomb at St George's Chapel, almost exactly three years on from her passing.

00:34The day will be capped off by a royal banquet at the castle, a state visit tradition dating back almost 300 years.

00:41But how is this town of just over 150,000 residents preparing to welcome the most powerful man in the world?

00:49I spoke to some local councillors and businesses on how they're getting Windsor Trump ready.

00:53So obviously in Windsor, we're really used to hosting these kind of royal occasions.

00:58And there's usually a massive buzz around the town as the flags get put up, as businesses get told what streets are going to be open

01:04and where people might be gathering and congregating.

01:07It has been a little bit different this time. It's a bit more subdued.

01:10There's been a huge security effort.

01:13We've been working in joint with the local police, Temes Valley Police, and all the other local authorities and everything in the area

01:20to make sure that this visit goes off really smoothly.

01:22We're not totally sure how this one's going to be.

01:26President Trump is quite a controversial figure, so I'm not sure how many people will be coming out in support of him.

01:30I personally think that the Prime Minister should not have put the king in this position.

01:36And why is that?

01:37We really like his majesty here. I don't want to see him somehow tainted by association with Donald Trump.

01:44We know that there is a national interest at play here, so we get that.

01:50But we think it's wrong that the Prime Minister has rolled the red carpet out to the supposed leader of the free world

01:58at a time when, especially what's happening in Gaza and Ukraine, the President could be doing so much more.

02:06For us, it's fantastic. We have a really reliable, steady stream of tourists coming to visit the castle and visitors and well-wishers.

02:15As I said, it's really nice to try and strike that balance between the local economy, people who live here,

02:20and actually tapping into that tourist footfall as well, which seems to be back to almost like pre-COVID levels now.

02:27There's a lot more police activity, a lot more visible police activity in armed police force,

02:33a lot of searches of the little nooks and crannies.

02:35I know people who work in the castle who are about as displeased as you can be, but it's our job.

02:40You know, like I said, we don't get to pick who we look after, which dignitaries we get to have visiting, so it's out of our hands.

02:48Hundreds of police have been stationed across the town, American flags line the streets,

02:52and queues of tourists are already over-spilling onto the pavements.

02:56So what do people in Windsor think of the presidential visit?

03:00I think it's a bit controversial. I'm not sure that the timing is great, but it is what it is.

03:07I've seen a lot more police in boats going up and down.

03:11That makes me happy to see the American flags. If they're up because Trump's coming, then no.

03:16So have you noticed an increased police presence? It's good timing, yeah.

03:21Well, it's a difficult one for Keir Starmer and his mates to forge.

03:26All I say is I wouldn't like to be in their position.

03:29Trump would love to have a Kral on his head.

03:31I think he's doing a great job in America.

03:34I wish that some of the thought processes and some of the ideas that he has that we could have in this country.

03:41There is a lot of police around.

03:42Yeah, yeah, there were loads up there earlier, and people with, they had high vises on with police searcher on it and things like that.

03:51Usually there are a few around, but not as much as today, at least.

03:56It's not the first and definitely won't be the last politically significant event taking place here.

04:01And although Trump's visit is largely being kept behind closed doors, it's certainly making its mark on the town of Windsor.

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