Britain's King Charles III, centre left, and U.S. President Donald Trump, centre right, pose with Queen Camilla and First Lady Melania Trump, right, at the state banquet at Windsor Castle, England, on day one of the president's second state visit to the UK, Wednesday. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP, Pool)

WINDSOR, England (AP) — President Donald Trump relished the glow of a British royal spectacle as he opened a two-day state visit Wednesday, calling the hours of pageantry with King Charles III “one of the highest honors of my life” while also making time for a quiet tribute at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb.

The grandeur-loving president soaked up all the revelry, from the largest guard of honor in living memory — with 120 horses and 1,300 troops — to carriage rides, an air show and a Windsor Castle state dinner.

After the pomp comes the real work Thursday, when Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meet to talk trade, technology and geopolitical issues.

No U.S. president, or any other world leader, has had the honor of a second U.K. state visit; Trump’s first was in 2019, during his previous term. The display of regal splendor was meant to bolster ties with Trump at a time when his America First policies are putting pressure on trade and security arrangements around the globe.

“This was the second state visit, and that’s the first, and maybe that’s going to be the last time, I hope it is actually,” Trump joked during the evening banquet.

The visit began with Prince William and his wife, Kate, meeting the presidential helicopter in the private Walled Garden on the vast Windsor estate, then walking Trump and first lady Melania Trump over to be greeted by Charles and Queen Camilla. A gigantic royal standard, the flag used for official celebration days, flew from the Royal Tower.

Thousands of demonstrators marched through central London on Wednesday to protest Trump’s visit.

In Windsor, protesters projected an image of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein on a tower at the castle, a reminder of the president’s relationship with the late American financier. Police said they arrested four people.