Who landed the best seats at Trump's UK state banquet

Meet the major players on the 160-strong guest list.

More than 150 guests attended the banquet in honour of US President Donald Trump's second state visit to the UK, from royals to billionaires.

Photos from the lavish event show a room dripping in gold and members of the British monarchy rubbing shoulders with key figures in the Trump administration.

But who landed the best seats in the house? Here's a breakdown of some of the biggest names on the guest list.

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The king is sitting next to Trump at the center of the 50-meter long table in St. George's Hall, where the ceiling is adorned with the coat of arms of every Knight of the Garter since the order was founded in 1348. Catherine, the Princess of Wales, is seated to the president's right.
On the other side of the table, Queen Camilla is seated next to first lady Melania Trump and Treasury chief Scott Bessent. Media mogul Rupert Murdoch also has a seat at the table.

President Trump was sat in the centre of the 47m long banquet table, flanked by King Charles III and Catherine, the Princess of Wales.

Trump's nameplate reportedly read "President of the United States of America" in all capital letters.

In keeping with tradition, spouses were seated apart at the expansive table.

First Lady Melania Trump was in the chair across from the commander-in-chief.

Melania Trump with members of the British royal family at the State Banquet in Windsor Castle, England, on day one of U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump's second state visit to the UK, Wednesday Sept. 17, 2025.

On her left side was Camilla, Queen Consort, who sat opposite the Princess of Wales.

Prince William sat to Melania's right and across from his father.

Next to him was Paula Reynolds, who is chair of National Grid, a British multinational electricity and gas utility company.

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The Prince of Wales and Ms Paula Reynolds and the Princess of Wales with Michael Boulos, walk at the state banquet at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on day one of US President Donald Trump's second state visit to the UK with his wife on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England.

Other guests who nabbed seats near the centre of the table included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

He was seated on the King's left hand side.

Lady Victoria Starmer, wife of British Prime Minister Kier Starmer, sat to the left of Rubio.

Her husband was seated elsewhere.

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Marco Rubio and his wife at the State Banquet in Windsor Castle, England, on day one of U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump's second state visit to the UK, Wednesday Sept. 17, 2025. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrives to attend a State Banquet at Windsor Castle for the State visit by the President of the United States of America on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England. President Trump is in England from Sept. 16-18 on his second UK state visit, with the previous one taking place in 2019 during his first presidential term.

Trump's son-in-law Michael Boulos was given a prime position on the Princess of Wales' right hand side.

Boulos is married to Tiffany Trump, the US President's fourth child and only child with second wife Marla Maples.

Tiffany was sitting a few seats away from her husband, next to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Cook was one of many noteworthy tech guests, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who was seated further down the long banquet table.

Tiffany Trump, Tim Cook and more at the State Banquet in Windsor Castle, England, on day one of U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump's second state visit to the UK, Wednesday Sept. 17, 2025. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (L) attends the State Banquet at Windsor Castle for the State visit by the President of the United States of America on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England. President Trump is in England from Sept. 16-18 on his second UK state visit, with the previous one taking place in 2019 during his first presidential term.

Altman has a reported net worth of $US2.2 billion ($3.3 billion), while Cook's net worth is said to be around $US2.5 billion.

Another exceedingly wealthy attendee was media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who is believed to be worth more than $US23.7 billion.

Murdoch, 94, attended the banquet with his wife Elena Zhukova, 68, a retired Russian molecular biologist. She is the billionaire's fifth wife.

Rupert Murdoch arrives to attend the State Banquet at Windsor Castle during the State visit by the President of the United States of America on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England. President Trump is in England from Sept. 16-18 on his second UK state visit, with the previous one taking place in 2019 during his first presidential term.

Murdoch's wealth was outdone by the chief executive of the Blackstone investment group Stephen Schwarzman, who is worth a reported $US54.3 billion.

Other important American guests included Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was escorted in by Dame Katherine Grainger, and White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

US Ambassador to the UK Warren Stephen also attended the banquet and was escorted inside by Anne, The Princess Royal.

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Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent and White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff attend the State visit by the President of the United States of America at Windsor Castle on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England. President Trump is in England from Sept. 16-18 on his second UK state visit, with the previous one taking place in 2019 during his first presidential term. The Princess Royal walks with US Ambassador to the UK, Warren Stephen, followed by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and Dame Vivian Hunt, at the state banquet at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on day one of US President Donald Trump's second state visit to the UK with his wife, First Lady Melania Trump on September 17, 2025 in Windsor, England.

Key British political guests included Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy.

A total of 160 guests attended the lavish banquet and dined on a menu of quail egg salad, chicken ballotine and vanilla ice cream bombe.

The drinks menu included a 1945 vintage port – a nod to Trump having been the 45th US president – and a more than 100 year old 1912 cognac.

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