A massive security operation has been put in place for Donald Trump’s state visit – the President will be staying at Windsor Castle and meeting with Keir Starmer at Chequers
Donald Trump is arriving for a state visit full of pomp and ceremony, and behind it will be a major security operation including a massive motorcade with ‘the Beast’ at the centre.
Windsor Castle staff are setting the mahogany table, grooms have buffed the hooves of the horses that will pull the royal carriages, and the military honour guard has been drilled to ensure every step lands with precision. Everything has been put in place as King Charles entertains Trump for his second state visit with tiaras, brass bands and banquets, with the aim of bolstering ties at a strained moment internationally over trade and security.
Specialist police have been brought in to carry out searches of Windsor Castle where Trump will have an overnight stay. It is part of a multimillion pound security operation which has taken months to prepare.
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It comes as protests are expected against Trump around the UK including one in central London, although the decision to keep the US President away from the capital will ease pressure on the Metropolitan Police.
Meticulous planning has been organised between law enforcement, civil servants and government departments, with Trump visiting the Windsor estate before heading to the Prime Minister’s country retreat Chequers.
He will be driven in the famous ‘Beast’ limousine with its armour plating, as well as being flown in his personal helicopter Marine One. Trump will travel in a massive motorcade likely to be made up of more than 20 vehicles and no security details will be ignored.
It is believed there will be cars that have electronic defence technology, a hazardous materials unit and satellite communications. On top of this there is likely to be an ambulance and outriders who will be checking the terrain before the president passes.
It is expected the vehicles will have been flown to the UK by the US Air Force, and US helicopters have reportedly been seen arriving at RAF Northolt.
“It’s like that old joke – the circus comes to town – and it will feel like that,” Nick Aldworth, a former UK counter-terrorism national co-ordinator, told the Telegraph.
“The British like to do security well, but quietly and understated. The Americans like to assert themselves and go big early. They will swamp whichever venue they’re going to.”
Security has been the responsibility of the Home Office and it has to liaise with the Americans, with one area to reach agreement on being the allowing of Trump’s bodyguards to carry guns.
It is also normal for US agents to shadow British police and be on hand to act if there is an incident. “There’ll be a hard-copy agreement and a very clear audit trail in case something happens and someone deviates from it,” said Will Geddes, a protective security consultant and bodyguard.
He also thinks a UK special forces quick reaction team could be on standby. “There is a domestic terrorism concern, a threat from Islamist extremism, anti-Trump protesters and those types who may want to do a stupid publicity stunt,” said Mr Geddes.
“You could have something outside the police cordon, which causes harm to people who turn up to see the spectacle – an attacker who stabs people, or a device at a landmark.”
Among the security personnel, there will also be behavioural specialists looking out for people acting suspiciously, airborne military ready to abseil down and police snipers.
If necessary there will be counter-surveillance technology that will block internet, phone signals and radio frequency pulses in case there are unauthorised drones receiving instructions.
In Windsor, ‘steel rings’ have been put in place while police will be using their own drones to look out for trouble. As is logical the main concern for security officials will be when Trump is travelling.