Security measures are being ramped up across London this afternoon ahead of Donald Trump’s historic three-day visit to the capital later this week.
Work has begun to set up a £30million ‘ring of steel’ around Regent’s Park, where the US President will stay, in anticipation of widespread protests against the trip.
Sunbathers were given the shock of their lives this afternoon as two V22 Ospreys flew over the park as part of drills, sending grass and debris flying through the air.
It is believed that more than 50,000 take to the streets of the capital, while a big orange ‘Baby Trump’ blimp has been given permission to fly.
In response, upwards of 10,000 police officers will be deployed to keep the US commander-in-chief and his wife Melania away from trouble.
Meanwhile US Navy carrier, the gigantic USS Harry S Truman, has docked in the south coast, where the £70million Ospreys will be stationed on high alert during the trip.
Barriers are installed at Winfield House in Regents Park before President Trump’s first official visit to the UK later this week
Work has begun to set up a £30million ‘ring of steel’ around Regent’s Park, where the US President will stay, in anticipation of widespread protests against the trip
It is believed that more than 50,000 take to the streets of the capital, while a big orange ‘Baby Trump’ blimp has been given permission to fly
Sunbathers were given the shock of their lives this afternoon as two v-22 Ospreys flew over the park as part of drills, sending grass and debris flying through the air
The £70m V22 Osprey
The Osprey can carry at least 24 fully equipped personnel and has a top speed of 360mph.
It has machine guns installed in the nose and on the rear ramp. Its range is also much greater than transport helicopters currently in service, as it can fly for up to 1,000 miles or eight hours without refuelling.
The Osprey’s ability to perform as a helicopter and as a fixed-wing aircraft is due to prop-rotors – the name given to the three 19ft-long rotors attached to each wing.
It takes off like a conventional helicopter then the proprotors and engines rotate through 90 degrees to turn it into a fixed-wing aircraft.
The aircraft’s Rolls-Royce engines generate enough horsepower for the Osprey to climb at an impressive 36ft per second.
It can also fly at up to 26,000ft, thereby avoiding enemy missiles, while its carbon-fibre fuselage reduces the impact of bullets and rockets.
The Osprey can carry at least 24 fully equipped personnel and has a top speed of 360mph
However, fresh details of the long-awaited visit issued by Downing Street confirm that Mr Trump will spend only minimal time in London.
Instead he will be feted by Mrs May at a dinner for business leaders being held on Thursday night at Blenheim Palace, the ancestral home of his hero Winston Churchill.
The next day he will have tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle and talks with the Prime Minister at her country retreat, Chequers.
Mrs Trump, meanwhile, will be given her own sightseeing tour, hosted by Theresa May’s husband Philip.
It has also emerged that Mr Trump will spend the majority of his three-day trip in Scotland, where his mother was born and where he owns two golf courses.
Downing Street denied the itinerary was deliberately designed to shield Mr Trump from the public.
A spokesman pointed out that several other leading figures had been hosted at Chequers in the past, including US presidents Richard Nixon and George W Bush.
The spokesman said the Prime Minister was ‘looking forward to making sure the president has the opportunity to experience the UK beyond London’.
But the itinerary means Mr Trump will be unable to tick of some of the highlights he had indicated he wants to, including a visit to Buckingham Palace.
No 10 defended the right of the public to protest peacefully, but added: ‘The majority of the British people understand the importance of the UK-US relationship.’
Mr Trump will arrive in Europe on Wednesday where he is expected to read the riot act to European leaders about their failure to spend more on defence.
When the summit finishes on Thursday he will fly straight to the UK, accompanied by a huge security operation.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will arrive on July 12 for a three day visit in which they will meet the Queen
Downing Street has revealed fresh details about the visit by Donald Trump and the First Lady to the UK next week
The president’s security team will guard him everywhere he goes in the UK as he travels around the country between London and Scotland
US President Donald Trump makes his way in the Presidential limousine knows as ‘The Beast’ – an armoured car which has been brought over to the UK
A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, piloted by the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. The helicopters and their decoy versions will be in the UK
Trump’s backup: The US Navy aircraft carrier Harry S Truman will dock on the south coast of England as President Trump tours the UK for three days while being supported by air, land and sea
The US President, who has a love of ceremony, will be greeted in the stately home’s Great Court by the bands of the Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards.
During dinner, the Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra will perform a series of classic British and American hits.
He will then travel to Winfield House for the night. The mansion stands in 12 acres of grounds in Regent’s Park and will be crawling with armed security guards.
On Friday morning, Trump and Mrs May will watch a military training exercise involving British and American forces before heading to Chequers for lunch.
Talks are expected to focus on the US-EU trade war, post-Brexit trade, Nato and security co-operation.
The US president will meet Theresa May at her Chequers country residence on Friday rather than in Downing Street