Palace sources revealed that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump occupied separate suites during their state visit to Windsor Castle on September 17, 2025, according to reports from palace insiders who spoke to British media outlets.
The arrangement allowed the couple privacy in their own rooms within the 11th-century royal residence, which boasts more than 1,000 rooms, including state apartments, private chambers, chapels, and offices. Trump’s team also shipped in their preferred bedding from the United States ahead of the visit, with palace staff accommodating the special request for the presidential suite.
Royal commentator Alastair Bruce, who specializes in royal matters for Sky News, explained that principal guests at Windsor typically enjoy suites equipped with both double and single beds, meaning couples could share accommodations without disturbing each other during late-night engagements. The separate sleeping arrangements mirror those of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, who maintained their own sleeping quarters, while King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla maintain separate residences entirely.
Trump’s advance team reportedly examined his Windsor suite before his arrival at Stansted Airport on Tuesday evening, determining that royal bedding required replacement with his preferred linens. A courtier joked that Trump decided he did not want to sully royal bedding with his tanning chemicals, according to palace sources.
The sleeping arrangements add to longstanding speculation about the Trump marriage, with journalist Michael Wolff previously stating that Donald and Melania Trump essentially live separate lives. Wolff indicated in May that “they clearly do not in any way inhabit a marriage as we define marriage” and characterized them as separated. The White House has repeatedly dismissed Wolff’s claims as fabrications.
The New York Times reported in May that Melania effectively vanishes from view for weeks at a time, dividing her time between homes in New York and Florida. White House officials responded that the first lady spends more time at the White House than publicly known, though they declined to specify the duration of her stays.
During Wednesday’s welcoming ceremony, Trump and the British royals exchanged elaborate gifts as part of the state visit protocol. King Charles and Queen Camilla presented Trump with a leather-bound book marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, along with the Union Jack that flew over Buckingham Palace on his second inauguration day.
Trump gifted Queen Camilla a vintage Tiffany diamond-and-ruby flower brooch, while King Charles received a replica of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s sword, symbolizing the U.S.-U.K. alliance during World War II. The gold-hilted, jewel-encrusted ceremonial weapon was made by Wilkinson Sword specifically as a gift to mark veneration rather than for warfare.
Melania Trump received a silver-and-enamel bowl by Northern Irish artist Cara Murphy and a designer handbag by Anya Hindmarch. The gift exchange took place privately following the public welcoming ceremony, which featured a guard of honor from three British Army regiments, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and a horse-drawn carriage procession.
The visit faced some limitations, as Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie were absent due to previously scheduled international engagements. Prince Edward traveled to Papua New Guinea between September 14 and 17 to commemorate the country’s 50th anniversary of independence from Australia, followed by a joint visit to Japan with his wife from September 18 through 22.
The horse-drawn carriage procession drew criticism from some royal commentators, with Daily Mail writer Richard Eden describing it as embarrassing and comparing it to a fairground ride. Eden noted that traditional royal carriage processions allow public viewing, unlike this private tour of Windsor Castle grounds designed specifically to entertain the American president.
Campaign groups protested outside Windsor Castle during Trump’s visit, with Everyone Hates Elon displaying large photographs of Trump with Jeffrey Epstein, while Led by Donkeys projected similar images onto the castle walls. The demonstrations occurred as Trump received the full ceremonial treatment typically reserved for heads of state during official visits to the United Kingdom.
