LONDON, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Donald Trump arrived in Britain Thursday afternoon at the start of his first visit since being elected as the U.S. President amid planned widespread protests.
Air Force One, the presidential jet touched down at Stanstead Airport in Essex, 65 km north of the British capital at the start of a two-day visit during which the president will hold face to face talks with Prime Minister Theresa May and meet Queen Elizabeth II.
A police cordon was thrown around the airport in a massive security operation, with a presence of U.S. security officials also on duty at the airport.
They were greeted on the airport apron by U.S. ambassador Woody Johnson. After the president and his wife left Air Force One, holding hands, Johnson and Trump shook hands and the ambassador greeted the First Lady with a kiss. A guard of honor and a line-up of British officials, led by Queen Elizabeth's official representative, the Lord Lieutenant of Essex were also among the greeting party.
Trump and his wife Melania made the journey from Stanstead to the official residence of the U.S. Ambassador Woody Johnson, spanning more than 12 acres of Regents Park in London. They traveled in Marine One in a fleet of helicopters making the journey to the ambassador's heavily guarded residence.
Trump will be resting at the residence after his arrival from Brussels where he attended the NATO summit.
A security screen was erected around a large area of London's Regents Park where the official residence of Johnson is situated. There is also a significant police presence around the park.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather in central London Friday in an organized protest against the Trump visit to Britain.
Police officers from across Britain were reported to have been drafted into London for the duration of Trump's visit, even though he had no public engagements in the capital.
Later Thursday Trump and his wife were scheduled to be VIP guests at a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Theresa May at Blenheim Palace, the stately home outside London which was the birthplace of Britain's World War II prime minister Winston Churchill.
Cabinet members, including Chancellor Philip Hammond and the new foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, as well as business leaders, were among the invited be guests.
After staying overtime at the Ambassador's home, Trump will accompany May to watch a military display before heading to May's country retreat at Chequers. Later, they will travel to Windsor Castle for a meeting with Queen Elizabeth.
On Friday afternoon Trump and his wife will head to his golf resort in Scotland where they will stay for the weekend.
