Queen defends 'international institutions' as London trolls Trump
Queen Elizabeth defended 'international institutions' during a banquet for Trump, while footage circulated of Camille Parker Bowles winking at cameras behind the US President, as anti-Trump protests in London continue.
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London continued to troll Trump during his visit (Twitter)
Donald Trump hailed Queen Elizabeth II as the British monarch threw a lavish banquet for the US president on Monday to kick off his three-day state visit.
The Trump dynasty sat down to a glittering dinner with the British royal family in the Buckingham Palace ballroom as the UK rolled out the red carpet.
Both Trump and the 93-year-old sovereign praised the common bond between Britain and the United States.
But the warmth was not shared all round, with mass protests planned for Tuesday, opposition political figures boycotting the banquet and the trip starting with a spat between Trump and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who Trump described as 'nasty'.
Trump's visit is centred on the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the liberation of Europe in World War II. Trump described Queen Elizabeth as a "great, great woman... a constant symbol of these priceless traditions", who embodied British "dignity, duty and patriotism".
Queen Elizabeth meanwhile defended the international institutions created after the war.
"As we face the new challenges of the 21st century, the anniversary of D-day reminds us of all that our countries have achieved together," she said.
"After the shared sacrifices of the second world war, Britain and the United States worked with other allies to build an assembly of international institutions, to ensure that the horrors of conflict would never be repeated."
"While the world has changed, we are forever mindful of the original purpose of these structures: nations working together to safeguard a hard-won peace."
Some speculated that she was refering to NATO, which Trump has sought to undermine, threatening to pull the US out of the military alliance.
"Toasts by Queen and Trump ostensibly dull but fascinating how each chose a different message from WWII", tweeted Catherine Philp, diplomatic correspondant with the Times of London.
"Trump a Brexity lesson in patriotism and guiding one's own destiny; ER [Queen Elizabeth] the post war legacy post-war of international rules, institutions and norms Trump seeks to dismantle."
The Queen presented Trump with a copy of Churchill's book on World War II, while outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May's parting gift to the US President was Winston Churchill’s own draft of the Atlantic Charter of 1941, a foundational text of the United Nations.
News site Politico deemed May's gift to be 'passive agressive', considering Trump's distain for the UN.
Earlier in the day, Camilla Parker Bowles, wife of Prince Charles, was caught winking to the cameras as her husband lead Trump off for tea.
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The anti-Brexit group 'lead by donkeys' protested Trump's visit to London by beaming a picture of a USS John McCain baseball cap onto Madame Tussauds. The image was a reference to the warship named after the deceased US senator that White House officials demanded by kept out of sight during a recent visit to Japan.
The group also beamed an image of Trump and Obama's UK approval ratings onto the Tower of London.
The group also beamed an image of Trump and Obama's UK approval ratings onto the Tower of London.
Wires contributed to this report.
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