When Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrived in Windsor on Wednesday for their state visit to the UK, the First Lady certainly stood out. Melania Trump’s hat attracted a lot of attention, and that was before it emerged that it contains a hidden message.
Donald Trump is currently on his second state visit to the UK. A state visit reflects an official trip to the UK, where the reigning monarch invites the visiting head of state on behalf of the government.
The American president has already been on a state visit once before. That was in June 2019, when he was invited by Queen Elizabeth. Normally, presidents who have served a second term are not invited on state visits. Instead, they are invited for tea or lunch.
But King Charles has chosen to do things a little differently. In February, according to the BBC, it emerged that Trump had been invited on a state visit for the second time.
The invitation came as a surprise to many, and there was much discussion about whether the invitation was due to there having been another president between Trump’s two terms in office, whether it was due to there being a new monarch, or something else entirely.
In any case, Donald and Melania arrived for their second state visit yesterday. From the moment they landed by helicopter and were greeted by Prince William and Princess Kate, the First Lady attracted a great deal of attention.
The hidden message of Melania Trump’s hat
When the presidential couple arrived at Windsor Castle, William and Kate were present to greet them before they were escorted to the castle, where King Charles and Queen Camilla were waiting.
Melania wore a timeless gray suit from Dior upon arrival, but it was her hat that stole the show.
She donned a wide-brimmed purple hat that hid her eyes in many situations. The hat brought back memories of the one that attracted a lot of attention at Donald Trump’s inauguration. It got in the way when the president wanted to kiss her. This awkward interaction subsequently went viral on the internet.
Melania once again donned a wide-brimmed hat for the first part of her and Donald’s state visit, and once against it has attracted a lot of attention. Stylist and Vogue employee Marian Kwei has no doubt: the hat is no coincidence.
“The wide-brimmed hat that hides her face points to an attitude where she wants all eyes to be on her husband and his agenda while they are here,” Marian Kwei told the BBC.
The color of the hat emphasizes this fact. Although the American president is known for his red ties, he chose to forego one for the state visit. Instead, he wore a purple tie in the same shade as his wife’s hat.
Laid a wreath at Queen Elizabeth’s grave
Wednesday’s state visit offered several experiences for the presidential couple. King Charles had invited the president to inspect a guard of honor consisting of three regiments from the Household Division: the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, and Scots Guards, prior to a parade in the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle.
They saw several historical sites that bore witness to the close relationship between Great Britain and the United States.
According to the British Royal Family, the presidential couple spent the afternoon laying a wreath at Queen Elizabeth’s grave. The day ended with a state banquet, where formal attire was the order of the day.
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