President Donald Trump appeared to deliberately snub Prince Harry during his speech on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at the state banquet at Windsor Castle, praising Prince William while making no mention of the Duke of Sussex.
Speaking to 160 guests at the formal dinner in St George’s Hall, Trump told King Charles he had raised a “remarkable son” in Prince William and said he would have “unbelievable success in the future.” The president completely omitted any reference to Harry, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children.
Trump also praised Princess Catherine, telling the audience how pleased he and the first lady were to spend time again with Prince William and witness how vibrant, well, and gorgeous the princess appeared, describing it as a tremendous privilege. The princess was seated next to Trump during the dinner.
The omission drew immediate attention from observers and social media users who noted the deliberate nature of Trump’s praise for William while completely excluding Harry from his remarks about the royal family.
Trump’s comments came during his second state visit to Britain, making him the first U.S. president to receive this honor twice. He described the experience as one of the greatest honors of his lifetime and expressed deep admiration for the monarch and the United Kingdom. He called it a “singular privilege” and joked that he hoped he would be the last president to be invited twice.
The president also highlighted King Charles’s charitable work, praising how the monarch had helped the disadvantaged, supported farmers, and assisted military veterans better than anyone. This praise of the king’s veteran work came as Trump ignored Harry, who has been vocal about military service and veteran causes since leaving royal life.
King Charles delivered his own speech during the banquet, making light references to historical U.S.-UK relations. The king joked that if the media had succeeded in the 1970s in deepening the special relationship, he might have been married off to a member of the Nixon family. Charles also addressed current global challenges, stating that Britain and America stand together in support of Ukraine to deter aggression and secure peace.
Princess Catherine wore a full-length, hand-embroidered gold Chantilly lace evening coat over a silk crepe gown by British designer Phillipa Lepley. She accessorized with the Lover’s Knot tiara, which had previously been worn by Princess Diana. Queen Camilla chose a blue Fiona Clare dress with matching sapphire and diamond tiara.
First Lady Melania Trump wore a bright yellow Carolina Herrera gown with an off-the-shoulder design and a purple belt, complemented by matching purple Manolo Blahnik heels.
Harry, now 41, stepped back from senior royal duties in 2020 and moved to Montecito, California, with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children. Relations between Harry and the royal family have been strained since his departure, particularly following the release of his memoir and various public statements about royal life.
Trump emphasized the strength of Anglo-American relations during his remarks, arguing that calling the partnership “special” failed to capture its true significance. He described the nations as connected through shared history, faith, language, and cultural bonds spanning generations.
The president also boasted about America’s recovery, claiming the nation had been severely troubled a year earlier but now represented the most successful country globally. He added that together, the US and UK have accomplished more humanitarian good than any other pair of nations in history.
The banquet took place in St. George’s Hall at Windsor Castle. The seating arrangement, determined by royal protocol, placed Trump between King Charles III and Princess Catherine, while First Lady Melania Trump sat across the table next to Queen Camilla and Prince William.
Trump’s pointed praise of William and Catherine, combined with his complete silence about Harry, highlighted the ongoing tensions within the royal family. The moment demonstrated how even formal diplomatic events reflect the divisions that have emerged since Harry’s departure from royal duties.
The state banquet marked the opening of Trump’s two-day state visit to the United Kingdom, which concluded Thursday, September 18, when the president and first lady departed on Air Force One to return to the United States. The visit included meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, where the two leaders announced a historic technology partnership agreement between their nations.
