THE QUEEN HOSTED PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TO A BANQUET AT THE BUCKINGHAM PALACE YESTERDAY NIGHT.{PHOTOS}.

   According to The Queen who hosted the President of the United States Donald Trump and his wife yesterday night to a dinner said   ‘Tonight we celebrate an alliance that has helped to ensure the safety and prosperity of both our peoples for decades, and which I believe will endure for many years to come.’

This evening, a State Banquet was held in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace in honour of the State Visit of the President and Mrs Trump.

In her speech at the banquet, The Queen spoke of the mutual aims and beliefs of both countries, saying, ‘Mr President, as we look to the future, I am confident that our common values and shared interests will continue to unite us.’

The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke of York and The Earl and Countess of Wessex also attended the banquet.

THE QUEENS FULL SPEECH:

Mr President,

I am delighted to welcome you and Mrs Trump to Buckingham Palace this evening, just twelve months after our first meeting at Windsor Castle. Visits by American Presidents always remind us of the close and longstanding friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States, and I am so glad that we have another opportunity to demonstrate the immense importance that both our countries attach to our relationship.

In the coming days, you will see some of our most treasured historical buildings, speak to the business leaders whose expertise and innovation drive our economies, and meet members of our Armed Services, past and present. You will also travel to Portsmouth and Normandy to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day.
 On that day – and on many occasions since – the Armed Forces of both our countries fought side-by-side to defend our cherished values of liberty and democracy. Mr President, in your State of the Union Address this year, you paid tribute to some of the American heroes who risked their lives, and we owe an immeasurable debt to the British, American and Allied soldiers who began the liberation of Europe on 6th June 1944. 

I paid my first State Visit to your country at the invitation of President Eisenhower. As Supreme Allied Commander, he had ultimate responsibility for the execution of the Normandy landings. In his headquarters in St James’s Square – not far from Buckingham Palace – British and American officers worked closely together to plan the freedom of a continent, and it would be no exaggeration to say that millions of lives depended on their common endeavour.

As we face the new challenges of the Twenty First Century, the anniversary of D-Day reminds us of all that our countries have achieved together. 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. 

Of course, it is not only our security which unites us; but our strong cultural links and shared heritage. Every year, there are almost four million visits by Americans to the United Kingdom, with a great number claiming British descent. And with your own Scottish ancestry, Mr President, you too have a particular connection to this country.

We are also bound by the strength and breadth of our economic ties, as the largest investors in each other’s economies. British companies in the United States employ over one million Americans, and the same is true vice versa.

Mr President, as we look to the future, I am confident that our common values and shared interests will continue to unite us. Tonight we celebrate an alliance that has helped to ensure the safety and prosperity of both our peoples for decades, and which I believe will endure for many years to come.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I invite you all to rise and drink a toast to President and Mrs Trump, to the continued friendship between our two nations, and to the health, prosperity and happiness of the people of the United States.

EARLIER REPORT:

On the first day of the #USStateVisit Her Majesty The Queen, with The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, officially welcomed President Donald J Trump and the First Lady, Mrs. Melania Trump, to the United Kingdom.

Marine One landed in the gardens of Buckingham Palace shortly after midday, and the President and First Lady were greeted on arrival by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall before meeting The Queen on the West Terrace.

The Guard of Honour, found by Nijmegen Company, Grenadier Guards, gave a Royal Salute, before the US National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, was played by the Band of the Regiment.

Escorted by The Prince of Wales, the President then inspected the Guard of Honour on the lawn of Buckingham Palace garden.

After a private lunch, The Queen, the President, the First Lady and other members of the Royals Family viewed Royal Collection Trust items on display at Buckingham Palace.

Later the President and the First Lady, accompanied by Hrhthedukeofyork as they lay a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey before joining The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall for afternoon tea at Clarence House.More photos below.