Trump Attends U.K. State Banquet at Buckingham Palace

Sir. president, i am delighted to welcome you and ms. Trump to Buckingham Palace this afternoon, just 12 months after our first meeting in Windsor, visits by American presidents always remind us of the dress and long-standing friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States and I am very pleased that We will have another opportunity to demonstrate the immense importance that both countries place on our relationship in the coming days, see some of our most treasured historic buildings, speak with business leaders whose expertise and innovation drive our economies, and meet members of our armed forces from the past and present.

I will also travel to Portsmouth and Normandy to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day on that day and on many occasions since when the armed forces of our two countries fought side by side to defend our cherished values ​​of freedom and democracy. President, in your State of the Union address this year you paid tribute to some of the American heroes who risk their lives and we owe an immeasurable and miserable debt to the British, American and allied soldiers who began the liberation of Europe on 6 June. In 1944 I made my first

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visit to your country, but at the invitation of President Eisenhower, as Supreme Allied Commander, I had final responsibility for the execution of the Normandy landings at his headquarters and at St.

James Square, not far from Buckingham Palace, British and American officials worked closely to plan the freedom of a continent and it would be no exaggeration to say that millions of lives depended on their common effort as we faced the new challenges of the 21st century on the anniversary. D-Day reminds us of all that our countries have achieved together after the shared sacrifices of World War II. Britain and the United States worked with other allies to build an assembly of international institutions to ensure that the horrors of the conflict were never repeated. While the world has changed, we are always aware of the original purpose of these structures: nations working together to safeguard a hard-won peace, of course, it is not only our security that unites us, but also our strong cultural and our shared heritage.

Every year there are almost 4 million American visits to the UK, a large number of them claiming to be of British ancestry and having their own Scottish ancestry. President, you also have a particular connection with this country. We are also united 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 1 million Americans and the same is true vice versa, sir. President, as we look to the future, I am confident that our common values ​​and shared interests will continue to unite us tonight as we celebrate an alliance that has helped ensure the security and prosperity of our two peoples for decades and that I believe will endure for many years to come, ladies and gentlemen, i invite you all to rise and toast the 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. Her Majesty Melania and I are deeply honored to be your guest on this historic

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visit. Thank you for your warm welcome to this beautiful climate. her gracious hospitality and Her Majesty's nearly seven decades of cherished friendship with the United States of America. This week we commemorate a great effort by just nations and one of the greatest undertakings in all of history. 75 years ago, more than 150,000 Allied troops were preparing for this island to parachute into France, stormed the beaches of Normandy and took back our civilization as Her Majesty remembers that the British people had waited, prayed and fought for this day for almost five years when Britain stood alone during the 1940 and 1941 blitz against the Nazi war machine.

They dropped thousands of bombs in this country and right in this magnificent city. Buckingham Palace alone was bombed on 16 separate occasions. In that dark hour, the people of this nation showed the world what it means to be British. They cleaned the street registers. They showed the Union Jack. from their shattered homes and continued to fight until victory they only wanted victory the courage of the sons and daughters of the United Kingdom ensured that their destiny would always remain in their own hands through it all the royal family was the resolute face of unwavering solidarity of the Commonwealth in The newspapers of April 1945 published a photo of the Queen Mother visiting the women's branch of the army watching a young woman repair the engine of a military truck that young mechanic was the future queen a great great woman Her Majesty inspired her compatriots in that fight to support the troops defend their homeland and defeat the enemy at all costs we also pay tribute to the distinguished and brave service of prince philip in the Royal Navy during the Second World War on d-day, the beloved father of the queen, King George VI, gave a moving national address that day.

He said that after almost five years of work and suffering we must renew that crusading impulse with which we entered the war and faced its darkest hour, our fight is against evil and for a world in which goodness and honor can be the basis of men's lives in In every country tonight we thank God for the brave sons of the United Kingdom and the United States who defeated the Nazis and the Nazi regime and freed millions from tyranny. The bond between our nation was forever sealed in that great crusade as we honor our shared victory. in heritage we affirm the common values ​​that will unite us for a long time in the future freedom sovereignty self-determination the rule of law and the reference of rights given to us by Almighty God from the Second World War until today His Majesty has remained a constant symbol of these priceless traditions, she has embodied the spirit of dignity, duty and patriotism that beats proudly in every part of Britain on behalf of all Americans.

I offer a toast to the eternal friendship of our people, the vitality of our nation and to the much appreciated and truly remarkable reign of Her Majesty the Queen thank you