King Charles III made an unexpected remark to President Donald Trump during their inspection of the Guard of Honour at Windsor Castle on September 17, 2025, telling the president to “watch the sword” as a guard brandished his blade in a sweeping movement.
The spontaneous moment occurred during Trump’s second state visit to the United Kingdom, as the two leaders walked past a row of military personnel for the traditional review. After completing the 30-minute Beating the Retreat ceremony, which featured 200 US and UK musicians, Charles and Trump stopped to chat with the guard who had led them through the inspection.
Video footage captured by Sky News showed the King making the warning in a jovial manner as the honour guard sliced his sword through the air, with Trump smiling in return. The exchange demonstrated what observers described as an ease between the British monarch and the US president during the ceremonial proceedings at Windsor Castle.
The sword reference proved particularly fitting, as the Trumps had presented King Charles with a replica of a President Eisenhower sword as part of the traditional gift exchange custom for diplomatic visits. Buckingham Palace indicated the gift symbolized profound respect and served as a reminder of the partnership critical to winning World War II, while also representing the synergy of the special relationship between the US and Great Britain today.
Trump had expressed enthusiasm for the state visit before his arrival, telling reporters at the White House on September 15 that King Charles and Queen Camilla were longtime friends. He described their relationship as existing since before Charles became King and praised the monarch as representing the country well, calling him an elegant gentleman.
The president’s fascination with British royalty was evident throughout the visit, which royal experts described as unusual in its scope and scale. Constitutional expert Craig Prescott from Royal Holloway, University of London, characterized it as a made-for-television state visit for a made-for-television president, noting that organizers appeared to throw out much of the traditional template for such events.
Sources close to King Charles revealed that the monarch had instructed his staff to treat Trump like a king for a day, understanding the president’s appreciation for elaborate ceremonies including carriages, trumpets, and red carpets. The directive reportedly caused some palace staff members to roll their eyes, though the visit proceeded smoothly according to the carefully choreographed plan.
The visit featured several departures from typical state visit protocols. Instead of the usual carriage procession down public streets, Trump rode in the enclosed Irish State Coach through royal grounds away from public view. The honour guard was larger than usual, and organizers included an extra military parade to accommodate the president’s preferences for ceremonial displays.
Royal historian Justin Vovk noted that the visit served as a commercial for the monarchy, demonstrating its role in foreign affairs, personal diplomacy, and international relations. He emphasized that observers could not discern the Royal Family’s personal feelings about the Trumps, which he indicated was exactly how such events should function.
During the Guard of Honour inspection, some social media commentators initially criticized Trump for walking ahead of the King, though royal sources confirmed this followed proper protocol for visiting heads of state. Newsweek reported that footage showed Charles beckoning Trump to take the lead, dispelling concerns about protocol breaches.
The ceremonial day continued with a state banquet at Windsor Castle that evening, where both leaders exchanged speeches emphasizing the enduring bond between their nations. Charles referenced his 20 visits to the United States since 1970 and his admiration for American principles of freedom and democracy.
Trump’s visit concluded on September 18 with business meetings at Chequers, the prime minister’s country residence, where he and Keir Starmer signed the Tech Prosperity Deal worth more than $200 billion in US investment in the UK. Following the meetings, Trump departed for Washington aboard Air Force One.
The success of the visit has led to discussions about future exchanges, with White House officials confirming plans to invite King Charles and Queen Camilla to the United States in 2026 as America marks its 250th anniversary. The last official state visit by a British monarch to the US occurred in 2007 during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
