Sunbed King stifles a yawn while the PM prepares for the worst as they face the media

It takes all sorts. Standing around under gunmetal skies watching soldiers isn’t many people’s idea of fun, but world leaders are a different breed. No bit of pageantry and flattery goes unnoticed. So why not give Donald Trump the full Disney treatment he craves?

- John Crace

But if Wednesday was the softening up - “You’re great, you’re the best. We’ve never done anything like this for anyone else” - then yesterday was the business end of the state visit. And the one moment of real danger for the US president and Keir Starmer. The one bit of the trip that wasn’t entirely scripted.

You could see the anxiety in Starmer’s eyes as he and the Sunbed King entered the Great Hall in Chequers. The US press corps all stood and applauded. Seriously? The UK pack remained seated. Starmer kicked things off with a speech designed not to rock the boat. Everything was fantastic. This had been the best state visit ever. Britain and the US loved each other and always would. No more so than now. And all thanks to the US president. Perhaps he hadn’t bothered to check that The Donald isn’t that popular this side of the Atlantic.