US President Donald Trump was greeted by Prince William and Princess Kate before attending a carriage procession through the Windsor estate and a state banquet as the Red Arrows soar overhead
The RAF’s Red Arrows are set to soar over Windsor Castle later today as Donald Trump is courted by UK royals for his second state visit.
It will be the first time a US president has been invited to the country for a second state visit. All the stops are being rolled out with an itinerary of pomp and ceremony, including royal banquets and reception and a getaway to Sir Keir Starmer’s country estate at Chequers.
The first-ever joint UK-US military flypast will also be on display for Trump, as will the largest guard of honour ever put on for a state visit.
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Despite the British establishment’s warm welcome, thousands of protesters are expected to take to the streets to show that not everyone else in the UK is as happy with the US Commander-in-Chief being here. The Red Arrows, though, will be one of the main highlights of the visit.
The iconic RAF squadron will depart their base at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire at 4.18pm before flying over Peterborough and Watford en route to London. The display team will fly over Heathrow at 4.44pm before taking to the skies over Windsor Castle at 4.45pm, passing over Northampton before landing back at RAF Waddington at 5.03pm.
In the past year, Londoners have witnessed several spectacular flypasts from the Red Arrows. On May 5 for the 80th anniversary celebration of VE Day, crowds across the capital peered at the sky as a Lancaster bomber, Typhoon jets, and state-of-the-art F-35 fighter jets soared overhead.
After the Beating Retreat, US and UK F-35 jets will accompany the Red Arrows in their flypast over Windsor Castle. The Ministry of Defence says the binational display will be a powerful message showing the strength of relationship between the two countries.
The Red Arrows has published a map of the route paired with timings for different locations.
- RAF Waddington – 16:18 BST
- West of Martin – 16:20 BST
- North of Heckington – 16:22 BST
- North of Newton – 16:25 BST
- Northwest of Armston – 16:30 BST
- South of Keyston – 16:31 BST
- North of Fen Drayton – 16:34 BST
- East of Nuthampstead – 16:37 BST
- South of Brayford – 16:40 BST
- Vicinity Brent Reservoir – 16:42 BST
- Vicinity Hounslow Heath – 16:43 BST
- Vicinity Heathrow – 16:44 BST
- Vicinity Windsor Castle – 16:45 BST
- Vicinity Clewer Village – 16:46 BST
- Northeast of Holmer Green – 16:47 BST
- Southeast of Upper Wincherdon – 16:49 BST
- Northeast of Belvoir – 17:00 BST
- RAF Waddington – 17:03 BST