UK Police Launch Largest Drone Operation Over Windsor for Trump Visit

Ahead of President Donald Trump's second state visit to the UK from September 17 to 19, Thames Valley Police are preparing one of their largest drone operations in British history to secure Windsor and the surrounding airspace. The operation will include 55 drones operated by 74 pilots, maintaining continuous aerial surveillance with each drone flying up to 400 feet for 30 minutes at a time. A 1.5-mile exclusion zone around Windsor Castle will be enforced, banning non-police drones and smaller aircraft, with the potential for arrests if the restriction is violated. The policing effort, led by Inspector Matthew Wilkinson, is comparable in scale to the King’s 2023 coronation and Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, deploying advanced drones equipped with thermal and infrared cameras to provide flexible, high-definition coverage. The Stop Trump Coalition plans mass demonstrations during the visit, prompting the police to deploy a wide range of visible and covert security measures including mounted patrols, marine units, and air support. Authorities are actively engaging with the local community and businesses to inform them about the restrictions and minimize disruption during the state visit.