King Charles III made an unscripted warning to President Donald Trump during their inspection of the Guard of Honour at Windsor Castle on September 17, 2025, telling the U.S. leader to “Watch the sword!” as a military guard brandished his blade in a sweeping movement.
The spontaneous moment, captured on video by Sky News, occurred as the two leaders walked past a row of soldiers during the traditional review on the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle. After completing their inspection, they stopped to chat with the guard who had led them through the ceremony, where the 76-year-old monarch made his jovial warning about the blade.
The exchange demonstrated the apparent ease between the British sovereign and the 79-year-old American president, who smiled in return at the King’s cautionary remark. The moment came after a 30-minute Beating the Retreat ceremony that featured 200 U.S. and U.K. musicians.
Trump had arrived in the United Kingdom on September 16 aboard Air Force One for his second official state visit to the country, making him the first U.S. president in history to receive such an honor twice. The president had described King Charles and Queen Camilla as longtime friends before his departure, noting they had maintained their friendship since before Charles became king.
The sword reference proved particularly fitting for the occasion, as the traditional exchange of gifts included the Trumps presenting King Charles with a replica of a President Eisenhower sword. Buckingham Palace indicated the gift symbolized profound respect and served as a reminder of the partnership critical to winning World War II, while also representing the special relationship between the United States and Great Britain.
The state visit followed an elaborate protocol that some royal sources suggested was specifically tailored to Trump’s preferences for ceremony and spectacle. A source close to the King told media outlets that Charles had instructed his staff to treat the American president like a king for a day, understanding Trump’s appreciation for the optics of carriages, trumpets, and red carpets.
Royal protocol experts confirmed that Trump’s positioning during various ceremonies followed proper diplomatic etiquette. When some commentators criticized the president for walking in front of Charles during the guard inspection, royal sources clarified that visiting heads of state traditionally take the lead position during such formal reviews.
The visit included several breaks from traditional state visit templates. Rather than the usual carriage procession down public streets, Trump rode with King Charles in the enclosed Irish State Coach through royal grounds away from public view. The honor guard was also reportedly larger than typical, and organizers included an additional military parade.
Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, played unusually prominent roles throughout the state visit. The couple greeted the Trumps upon their helicopter arrival at Windsor and participated in a private meeting that Kensington Palace aides described as warm and friendly. At the Wednesday evening state banquet, Trump was seated between King Charles and Catherine, to whom he paid personal tributes about her appearance and health.
Constitutional expert Craig Prescott characterized the event as a made-for-television state visit designed for a made-for-television president, with organizers focusing primarily on creating favorable optics. He suggested the monarchy served as a diplomatic shield for the U.K. government during the visit.
The ceremonial aspects concluded on September 18, when Trump transitioned to substantive diplomatic meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers. The leaders signed a major U.S.-U.K. investment agreement called the Tech Prosperity Deal, with the British government announcing more than $200 billion in U.S. investment commitments.
Following the successful completion of his U.K. visit, Trump indicated plans to invite King Charles and Queen Camilla to the United States in 2026 as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The invitation would mark the first official state visit by a British monarch to the U.S. since Queen Elizabeth II’s visit in 2007 during the George W. Bush administration.
Sources:
https://people.com/king-charles-tells-donald-trump-watch-sword-state-visit-11812196
https://www.aol.com/news/king-charles-tells-trump-watch-193021035.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/king-charles-trump-windsor-castle-honour-guard-video-b2828562.html
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-royal-protocol-king-charles-2131277
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/state-visit-donald-trump-prince-harry-funeral-duchess-of-kent-1.7637562
