A state banquet can be a revealing thing. When, over the summer, the King welcomed President Macron to a state banquet — the first held for a French president since 2008 — in attendance were rock stars (Mick Jagger, Elton John) actors and authors (Kristin Scott Thomas and Joanne Harris, respectively) and sports heroes (the Lioness Mary Earps).
For Donald Trump’s bash last night? Different crowd. This was not a night of celebrity stalwarts: no Sir David Beckham, no Dame Judi Dench. Not even Ellie Goulding — bafflingly a regular at royal knees-ups — could be summoned. At least there was Sir Nick Faldo, a true giant of golf.
