Madras Times - Windsor poised for global spotlight with Trump state visit

All were on display as the American president landed late Tuesday at London's Stansted airport for an unprecedented second UK state visit, with King Charles III to welcome him in Windsor, west of London, on Wednesday.

Beneath British and American flags decked out along the town's main street, several dozen anti-Trump demonstrators rallied Tuesday evening, chanting slogans and waving placards, ahead of a larger planned protest in London Wednesday.

"I am beyond disappointed," Michelle, 32, a marketing executive who declined to give her surname, told AFP of Britain rolling out the red carpet.

"Donald Trump as a person is... fuelling a lot of the far-right protests that we're already having here.

"It's a humongous problem," she said, days after an estimated 150,000 attended a London rally organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

Police patrols in Windsor were ever-present -- the first of numerous layers of security -- with the sound of mounted officers on horseback echoing through the cobbled streets.

- 'Oily money' -

A stone's throw from protesters, champagne corks could be heard popping as members and invitees of the UK chapter of Republicans Overseas gathered at the Windsor Guildhall for a pre-visit dinner.

"The mood is celebratory," attendee Dan Martin, 72, an American charity administrator, told AFP from the grand three-century old building where Charles married Queen Camilla in 2005.

"He is the leader of the Western world ... and we celebrate his efforts to enact decent policies for peace and security in the West."

However, the celebrations were temporarily derailed when several climate campaigners infiltrated the event, posing as dinner guests, and launched impassioned anti-Trump speeches.

"We should not be here to support this president. He only leads us down a path of fascism and climate collapse," one female activist said, as another held up a banner reading "oily money kills".

Both were forcibly removed from the venue.

- 'All for it' -

Meanwhile, locals tried to go about their business as usual, as the world's media erected small encampments in the shadow of the castle.

"I don't have a problem with it at all ... I think it attracts more visitors, particularly from America. We need that," said Simon Porter, 68, a former music manager.

But Joe, 49, from nearby Egham, who declined to give his surname, said Trump "spreads hate and division everywhere he goes".

"It's not disruptive, but I'd still rather not have him," he added, delighted that protests were planned in Windsor and London.

"Good on them! Let him know he's not wanted."

- 'Different' -

Windsor and its roughly 32,000 residents are used to having the world's eyes on the town, and the oldest and largest occupied castle on the planet.

Hundreds of millions watched in 2018 when Prince Harry married Meghan Markle there, while it was the final stop for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral cortege. The late monarch's remains lie in a crypt in St George's Chapel within Windsor Castle.

In July, Charles hosted French President Emmanuel Macron for a state visit there. Buckingham Palace, which usually hosts world leaders on state visits, is currently undergoing refurbishments.

Some local businesses said they usually see a boost when big royal or diplomatic events come to town.

But the security, and ensuing disruption, that comes with a US presidential visit had left some downbeat.

"Last time, the state visit with France, it was busy, but this time is totally different," said Amber Taz, 43, noting business at her cafe was down so far.

Trump's unpopularity in Britain was reflected in a number of other stunts in Windsor.

An anti-Trump campaign group beamed a video of images of Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein onto the castle.

Nearly 2,000 people donated more than £30,000 to fund their antics, which included briefly erecting a 400-square-metre banner Monday following a "ruin Trump's UK visit with this Epstein photo" crowdfunding appeal.

B.Chawla--MT