Donald Trump has arrived in Britain tonight for his historic second state visit where he will spend time with his ‘friend’ King Charles III. 

The US President, 79, landed at Stansted Airport on Air Force One and held First Lady Melania’s hand as he walked down the aircraft steps. 

He was greeted by The Viscount Hood, Lord-in-Waiting, before Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who initially opposed his first state visit, shook his hand for about five seconds.

The leader of Maga and his 55-year-old wife Melania will now be transported by his Marine One helicopter to the US ambassador’s residence, Winfield House, in Regent’s Park, London, where they will spend the night.

Trump had earlier shared his enthusiasm about visiting the UK and expressed his anticipation to meet the 76-year-old monarch, whom he characterized as ‘an elegant gentleman’.

‘My relationship with the UK is very good, and Charles, as you know, who’s now King, is my friend,’ he stated before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

‘It’s the first time this has ever happened where somebody was honoured twice. So, it’s a great honour.

‘And this one’s at Windsor. They’ve never used Windsor Castle for this before. They use Buckingham Palace.

‘And I don’t want to say one’s better than the other, but they say Windsor Castle is the ultimate, right? So it’s going to be nice.’

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to his state visit

The US President, 79, landed at Stansted Airport on Air Force One just after 9pm

Trump is lodging at Windsor Castle since Buckingham Palace is undergoing a £369million refurbishment, which is not expected to be completed until 2027.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte also stayed at Windsor Castle during their three-day state visit in July. 

Ahead of the journey, Trump remarked: ‘Primarily it’s to spend time with Prince Charles and Camilla. They’ve been friends of mine for a long time, long before he became King, and it’s a privilege to have this King.

‘And, you know, I think he represents the country so well. He’s such an elegant gentleman and he represents the country so well.’

Trump will enjoy a royal flypast, a carriage ride with Princess Kate and a grand state banquet among other meetings during his stay.

Tonight protestors gathered outside Windsor Castle and held placards reading ‘go away, you’re polluting Windsor’, and ‘fascists not welcome’.

Some Maga faithful were also seen outside the castle grounds waving an American flag, while another held a RIP Charlie Kirk sign. 

Trump will be flown by his Marine One helicopter (pictured tonight at Stansted Airport) to the US ambassador’s residence Winfield House in Regent’s Park, London

Donald Trump (pictured with wife Melania) hailed King Charles an ‘elegant gentleman’ ahead of the US President’s second state visit to Britain

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper earlier greeted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his wife Jeanette Dousdebes

Trump is seen chatting to members of the press during his flight to Britain

Protestors are gathering outside Windsor Castle tonight ahead of Trump’s second state visit 

Protestors hold placards reading ‘go away, you’re polluting Windsor’, and ‘fascists not welcome’

Trump supporters wave an American flag, while another holds a RIP Charlie Kirk sign 

Some Maga faithful were also seen outside the castle grounds waving an American flag

The Union and American flags are seen flying outside Windsor Castle ahead of the visit 

Meanwhile, two men have been arrested by police on suspicion of flying a drone over Windsor. 

A 37-year-old suspect from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, is in custody after allegedly breaching temporary air restrictions brought in from today as part of the massive police safety operation required for the US President’s short stay in the UK.

Thames Valley Police said the man was flying a drone in the village of Datchet, not far from Windsor Castle.

It comes hours after another 37-year-old man, from Brentford in west London, was arrested on suspicion of flying a drone over Windsor Great Park.

Trump described the second state visit to the UK as a ‘great honour’ and said that he is looking forward to talking to his ‘friend’, the King.

The President’s allies also vowed he would ‘go easy’ on struggling Sir Keir Starmer following a series of domestic hits to the Prime Minister’s leadership.

Labour had feared Trump could use the visit to lambast the PM over freedom of speech in the UK, amid claims from conservatives that the Online Safety Bill impinges on the rights of Americans.

But sources today said the president could go easy on Sir Keir due to the significant domestic pressure he is under.

Mr Trump’s first UK state visit took place June 2019, where he met the late Queen Elizabeth II and stayed in Winfield House

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will meet King Charles and Queen Camilla during their state visit this week (they are all pictured here in 2019)

One said: ‘This trip will be about the splendour of Windsor Castle, inspecting the troops, the big banquet. This is a big deal for him. And the plan is to keep it about that.’

Yet despite a series of political scandals, with Lord Mandelson being dismissed as US ambassador and ex-Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigning over underpaid stamp duty, Trump praised the PM saying he represents the UK ‘so well’.

The American leader is being feted with a stay in Windsor Castle where he will be hosted by the King and treated to a ceremonial welcome on Wednesday and a lavish state banquet.

Security will be paramount, with Mr Trump confined to the private Windsor estate on the first full day, before heading to the Prime Minister’s country residence Chequers on Thursday.