Queen Elizabeth II gave President Trump an abridged first edition of Winston Churchill’s “The Second World War” after the president arrived for his first state visit in the United Kingdom on Monday.
CNN reported that the book was presented in a crimson and gold-tooled cover and featured hand-sewn headbands in the colors of the United States and United Kingdom flags.
{mosads}Churchill wrote the books following World War II based on his own notes and diaries. His accounting spans multiple volumes, though the abridged version presented to Trump is a single volume.
While Trump has expressed admiration for Churchill, he has in the past indicated that he does not read much because he does not have time.
CNN reported that the queen also gave Trump a three-piece pen set in a presentation box. First lady Melania Trump received a silver box that featured rose, thistle and shamrock images similar to the ceiling pattern in Buckingham Palace’s music room.
Trump and the first lady met with the queen and other members of the royal family shortly after arriving in the United Kingdom for a state visit.
The president caused a stir leading up to his arrival by criticizing London Mayor Sadiq Khan, denying he called the duchess of Sussex “nasty” and weighing in on Brexit negotiations and the election of the next prime minister.
Thousands of demonstrators are expected to turn out in protest of his visit.