Donald Trump hails our ‘fantastic’ Queen and says UK relationship is ‘very strong’ after Buckingham Palace visit

DONALD Trump has praised our "fantastic" Queen and Royal Family after spending the afternoon with them on day one of his historic state visit.

The US President tweeted this evening: "London part of trip is going really well. The Queen and the entire Royal family have been fantastic.

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"The relationship with the United Kingdom is very strong."

The President also hinted there had been trade deal talks, as he called on Britain to throw off the EU "shackles".

He posted the tweets around an hour - attended by other royals, including Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge.

Earlier today Mr Trump was met with an 82-gun salute as he touched down at Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen.

The President and his family were greeted with full pomp and ceremony when his helicopter landed on the lawn this afternoon for the official start of his three-day tour.

The Queen hosted lunch for Mr Trump and wife Melania, then led them on a tour of Buckingham Palace this afternoon.

The First Couple moved on to Westminster Abbey later, to place a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Warrior.

On the first day of Mr Trump's visit to Britain:

• The President launched a furious rant at London Mayor Sadiq Khan - who hit back calling Mr Trump "far right"
• Mr Trump had a long chat with Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on the tarmac at Stansted, just days after he said he "liked" the Tory leadership hopeful
• It emerged the President WON'T have a one-on-one meeting with lame duck PM Theresa May
• Prince Harry joined the Royal party despite the war of words over Meghan's views on Mr Trump
• Jeremy Corbyn revealed he will speak at tomorrow's mass anti-Trump protest
• Mr Trump praised the 'fantastic' Queen after spending the afternoon with her and said he would talk about a trade deal once UK casts off EU 'shackles'
• The US President and his family arrived back at Buckingham Palace for the State Banquet

Prince Charles and Camilla greeted Mr Trump and his wife Melania at Buckingham Palace shortly after midday.

They then led the First Couple across the lawn of the palace garden to where the Queen was waiting for them.

The two heads of state shared an intimate lunch at the palace before Mr Trump started a series of engagements with senior royals.

A full military escort met the President on the Buckingham Palace lawn, before soldiers fired off 82 rounds - 41 in honour of Mr Trump, and another 41 to mark the anniversary of the Queen's coronation.

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Soldiers from the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery led 71 horses, pulling six WW1-era 13-pounder field guns, into place, to fire 82 blank artillery rounds at ten-second intervals.

The two leaders then inspected a line-up of the Grenadier Guards as the band played The Star-Spangled Spanner and God Save The Queen.

Among the soldiers was Guardsman Joshua Young-Hastings from South London - who gave up a professional career in American football to join the Army.

The President and Mrs Trump were watched from the Buckingham Palace balcony by his daughter Ivanka, a key White House adviser, and her husband Jared Kushner.

After lunch, the Queen took the Trumps to see a specially commissioned exhibition of American artefacts held in the Royal Collection.

They examined a copy of the Declaration of Independence, a portrait of George Washington and a number of items with a Scottish link - a nod to Mr Trump's Scottish family origins.

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The President landed at Stansted airport this morning at around 9am for a three-day trip, having already humiliated outgoing PM Theresa May over Brexit.

Ahead of his landing he began tweeting insults at Sadiq Khan, calling him a "stone cold loser" and urging him to "focus on crime in London, not me".

He added: "Kahn (sic) reminds me very much of our very dumb and incompetent Mayor of NYC, de Blasio, who has also done a terrible job - only half his height.

"In any event, I look forward to being a great friend to the United Kingdom, and am looking very much forward to my visit. Landing now!"

President Trump was greeted at the airport with a military welcome from the Royal Air Force - giving them a salute as he walked past.

He then reached out for wife Melania's hand as he guided her away from Air Force One.

Mr Hunt said after the pair talked: "I said to him that we're going to put on a great show for him, because America is our greatest ally."

And he added: "He didn't exactly say he was going to be inviting Sadiq Khan for the Royal treatment at the White House anytime soon."

Also waiting for him as he got off the plane were US ambassador Woody Johnson, the Lord-Lieutenant of Essex Jennifer Tolhurst, representing the Queen, and senior police officers.

This afternoon he will take a trip to the Grave of the Unknown Warrior ahead of a lavish state banquet. Meghan Markle will stay at home with baby Archie in Windsor rather than joining other royals.

A body language expert said the President and the Queen showed "undeniable warmth" when they met while Prince Charles tried to position himself as boss in the relationship.

Judi James told The Sun: "There were undeniable signals of warmth between Trump and the Queen and she was even seen chuckling happily as she waited on the steps of the palace.

"Prince Charles looked less assured as he walked out to host Trump, fiddling, patting and using self-comfort checking rituals that implied quite high levels of anxiety."

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Tomorrow is earmarked for political activities as Mr Trump visits 10 Downing Street for talks and a joint press conference with Mrs May - despite the fact she's leaving office within weeks.

The PM will give the President a tour of the famous Churchill War Rooms, buried beneath Westminster, with leading historians who willl explain the significance of the space.

But today it emerged the two leaders won't have any one-on-one meetings without aides present, unlike on most official trips.

No10 insisted the pair will engage in serious political discussions.

Before even boarding Air Force One back in the US, Trump praised Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage and suggested he may meet them both.

But when asked whether he would be meeting Mr Khan, Trump couldn’t resist hitting out again at his long-time critic.

“No, I don’t think much of him,"; Trump replied. "I think he’s, he’s the twin of [Bill] de Blasio, except shorter.”

Like 5ft 6in Khan, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has a hate-hate relationship with the president.

A spokesperson for the Mayor said this morning: "This is much more serious than childish insults which should be beneath the President of the United States."

They also said he was an example of a "growing far-right threat around the globe".

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Donald Trump gave a wave as he got off Air Force One with wife Melania this morning

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TRUMP BACKS BORIS

It comes after Trump made an unprecedented intervention by backing Boris Johnson as the next PM.

While stopping short of offering his full endorsement, Trump told The Sun: “It’s something that I find very interesting.

“I actually have studied it very hard. I know the different players.

“But I think Boris would do a very good job. I think he would be excellent.”

He said he expected to meet with Johnson in London as he left the White House on Sunday evening.

"Well, I think I may meet with him. He's been a friend of mine. He's been very nice. I have a very good relationship with him."

Trump then added he may also meet with Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage.

"I have a very good relationship with Nigel Farage, with many people over there (in the UK) and we'll see what happens.

"I may meet with him. They want to meet. We'll see what happens."

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£4OMILLION STATE VISIT

The US president said he expected his three-day state visit to be "very important" and "very interesting".

It is predicted to be the most expensive in British history. The operation to protect Trump and his 1,000-strong entourage is expected to cost taxpayers an estimated £40million in security alone.

Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to demonstrate against the US president and fly the Trump blimp, which depicts the leader as a baby.

Trump will be protected by his motorcade - headed up by his £1.2million 'Beast' limo - and helicopters during his visit.

A ring of steel has been put in place outside the US Ambassador's residence in Regent's Park ahead of Trump's much-anticipated arrival, with cops implementing strict safety measures.

The President will also enjoy the protection of state-of-the-art security equipment and staff.

An eight-foot-high temporary steel mesh fence has been placed on the road between Winfield House and London's Central Mosque.

Demonstrators have vowed lay siege to Downing Street, with protests still expected to take place despite police imposing a ban on marching down Whitehall.

The infamous inflatable baby blimp, which flew during his last visit to London, is also expected to pay another visit.

The Metropolitan Police said it would prevent the demonstrators marching past Downing Street from Trafalgar Square and into Parliament Square.

Activists are set to hold a "Carnival of Resistance" to disrupt the president’s visit.

SECURITY CRACKDOWN

Up to 10,000 police officers will be drafted into London as part of a £40million security operation during the state visit.

The Metropolitan Police said it had "a very experienced command team" leading the operation as the force geared up to deal with the visit itself and expected protests.

Protesters are again hoping to fly the Donald Trump blimp, which depicts the American leader as a baby.

When Trump visited Britain last year, he avoided London - where an estimated 250,000 people marched against him.

It was estimated that Trump's UK visit in 2018 cost the taxpayer approximately £18 million to ensure his safety.

Met Police said: "Protesters will not be marching past Downing Street at any point.

"This is a multi-faceted security operation, and whilst the Met has a responsibility to ensure the right to peaceful protest, this needs to be balanced with the complex requirements of this policing plan.

"We are anticipating a number of additional protests to take place across central London throughout the duration of the President’s visit."

Although security will be extremely tight for the three-day trip, more than 150 people have pledged to attend a “Milkshakes Against Trump” gathering in Trafalgar Square.

The controversial event is being organised by a group called Milkshakes Against Racism.

Anti-racism protesters also plan to build a wall of cardboard to symbolically knock down, which they say represents the president’s Mexico wall and other policies.

Trump will today visit Westminster Abbey and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

On the second day, he is set to hold talks with Theresa May at Downing Street.

The pair will attend a business breakfast with senior UK and US business leaders, before they hold their last joint press conference together.

Mrs May is expected to travel to Southsea Common in Portsmouth with Trump to attend the D-Day anniversary events.

In a sign at how deeply Mr Trump values the honour of his state visit and being hosted by the Queen, he is bringing all four of his grown-up children and their spouses to share the experience.

And he wants Ivanka, Tiffany, Eric and Donald Jnr to hold a “next generation” meeting with Princes William and Harry.

The President said: “I think my children will be meeting them. It would be nice.”

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Trump's eldest daughter Ivanka, 37, was the first to arrive in London.

She posted a photograph of herself outside the Victoria and Albert Museum wearing a yellow floral dress from New York sister designers duo Ai Ly and Wayne Lee - aka Les Reveries.

Yesterday Mr Trump's ambassador to the UK said the President wanted to get a trade deal done as quickly as possible, saying it was already on the President's desk to get sorted.

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