WSJ owner Rupert Murdoch joins Trump at royal banquet amid $20 bn lawsuit over ‘letter to Epstein’

As President Donald Trump prepared for the grand state dinner at Windsor Castle, an unexpected figure on the guest list drew widespread attention. Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, the powerful owner of the Wall Street Journal, was among the invitees despite being embroiled in a major lawsuit with Trump.

The US president is seeking $20 billion in damages from Murdoch after the Journal reported on a birthday letter connected to Jeffrey Epstein, allegedly bearing Trump’s name. Trump has denied the authenticity of the signature and insisted that he had personally warned Murdoch against publishing the report. The lawsuit not only targets Murdoch’s media empire but also demands his direct testimony.

A delicate seating arrangement

Despite the courtroom drama, Murdoch and his fifth wife Elena were confirmed to attend the dinner, seated at the same table as Trump. Royal officials emphasised that the seating plan was devised by Buckingham Palace and the White House, not by the president.

Trump’s position was between King Charles III and Catherine, Princess of Wales, while First Lady Melania Trump sat opposite him alongside Queen Camilla and Prince William. This arrangement showed the state nature of the occasion, where political disputes were overshadowed—at least for one evening—by royal ceremony.

Notable absences and high-profile guests

One conspicuous absence from the guest list was Peter Mandelson, the recently dismissed British ambassador to Washington. He was removed from his post by Prime Minister Keir Starmer following revelations of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, a scandal that cast a shadow over the otherwise glittering occasion.

In contrast, US. Ambassador Warren Stephens attended, along with a notable roster of political and business figures. Among them were OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, Newsmax’s Christopher Ruddy, Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, Bank of America’s Brian Moynihan and SoftBank board director Rene Haas.

Senior US officials also had prominent seats, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who dined beside Queen Camilla, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who attended with his wife.

Royal table and menu

The grandeur of the evening was reflected in meticulous planning. More than 100 staff served guests at a long table set with 130 candles and elaborate floral arrangements. Each place setting included multiple courses of cutlery and five distinct glasses, complemented by English, French and American wines.

The menu itself highlighted seasonal British produce. Guests began with panna cotta de cresson, parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, followed by Norfolk chicken wrapped in courgettes with an herb-infused jus.

Dessert was a vanilla ice cream bombe with Kentish raspberry sorbet and lightly poached Victoria plums. Royal chef Mark Flanagan, who coordinated with the White House culinary team, explained that the choices reflected King Charles III’s “eclectic palate” while incorporating subtle nods to American cuisine.

Politics and ceremony intertwined

The spectacle of Windsor Castle’s banquet hall, adorned with its regal traditions, masked but could not erase the underlying tension. Murdoch’s presence alongside the very man suing him illustrated the peculiar intersection of politics, media and monarchy.

For Trump, the evening offered the chance to reinforce diplomatic ties, while for Murdoch it provided a reminder of his enduring proximity to power—even under the cloud of a multibillion-dollar lawsuit.