The lavish Windsor Castle banquet held as the centrepiece of President Donald Trump‘s state visit to Britain was hit by a furious behind-the-scenes row, The Daily Mail has learned.
The spectacular dinner saw Trump and his wife Melania hosted by King Charles, Prince William and Princess Kate, surrounded by dozens of high-flying business chiefs and diplomats from both sides of the Atlantic.
But as the 160 VIP guests enjoyed their three course meal in the refined surroundings of Windsor Castle‘s St George’s Hall, tensions ‘below stairs’ were soon boiling over.
Sources have told the Daily Mail that several members of the Secret Service team guarding the President went into the kitchen to oversee the preparation by the royal chefs, and even tasting the food – which some of them felt was disruptive.
The guests were blissfully unaware but the atmosphere in the kitchen quickly became tense as tempers began to fray between kitchen staff and visiting American security.
The royal source said: ‘The banquet was a resounding success in the main hall, but there was a disruption behind the scenes.
‘Tensions flared between the chefs preparing the meal and the US security team responsible for protecting the President and his entourage.
‘The chefs, working to plate three courses flawlessly, grew frustrated as US Secret Service agents repeatedly checking and even sampling all the food.
However Palace officials said they do not to recognise the account of tempers flaring behind the scenes, and called the claims ‘categorically untrue’ – adding that their relationship with US colleagues was extremely warm and supportive throughout.
The spectacular dinner saw Trump and his wife Melania hosted by King Charles, Prince William and Princess Kate
King Charles and Queen Camilla stand with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the state banquet at Windsor Castle
White House staff (left) disembarking from helicopter before Donald and Melania Trump touched down at Windsor
But the royal source added: ‘What began as quiet irritation escalated into a heated exchange, with raised voices on both sides.
‘It took several minutes for tempers to cool and for the kitchen to return to its usual rhythm.
‘Guests in the hall remained completely unaware of the row, but in the kitchen, it was impossible to miss.’
The opulent three-course dinner menu – which was written in French – consisted of Hampshire watercress panna cotta with Parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad to start, brought to a table set with 1,452 pieces of silver cutlery and five wine glasses a head.
This was followed by organic Norfolk chicken ballotine wrapped in courgettes with thyme and savoury infused jus with vanilla ice cream bombe and Kentish raspberry interior sorbet interior, decorated with poached plums to finish.
There was also an abundant wine list including a 2016 English vintage sparkling wine from the Wiston Estate for aperitif and then Domaine Bonneau de Martray, a dry white wine for the starter.
The main course was accompanied by a white Corton-Charlemagne, Grand Cru 2018, and a red Ridge Vineyards, Montebello, 2000 with the champagne being Pol Roger, Extra Cuvee de Reserve 1998.
After dinner drinks were also chosen with care – including a 1945 vintage port in honour of Trump being the 45th US president and a 1912 cognac – the year his Scottish mother was born.
The guests were blissfully unaware but the atmosphere in the kitchen threatened to boil over
Although Trump is a well-known teetotaler, guests were also able to enjoy a special cocktail created for the banquet, the Transatlantic whisky sour which mixed Johnnie Walker with marmalade, pecan foam and a toasted marshmallow on a biscuit.
Trump is said to avoid alcohol following the death of his brother Freddie at 42 from drink and he once said: ‘It was a very tough period of time. If you don’t start, you’re never going to have a problem. If you do start you might have a problem. And it’s a tough problem to stop.’
The ‘head’ of the 47m table sits in the middle for a Windsor State banquet and King Charles was next to guest of honour Trump, who also sat alongside the Princess of Wales and who he complimented several times.
They faced first lady Melania, who was in between Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales and TV footage of the event appeared to show the royals and the Trumps getting along famously – all without knowing what was going on backstairs.
