<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As President Donald Trump entered St. George's Hall for the grand finale of his state visit at Windsor Castle, someone he is suing was seated at the end of the dinner table: Rupert Murdoch.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Murdoch, a familiar face at state dinners in the past, is currently locked in a major legal battle with Trump, who is suing the powerful owner of the Wall Street Journal after it reported on a suggestive birthday letter given to Jeffrey Epstein bearing Trump's name.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump has denied that it's his signature and said at the time of the report that he personally warned Murdoch he'd sue if the newspaper published it.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/usa-jeffrey-epstein-files-kash-patel-fbi/1d498445-f6fa-4410-a280-d732fb60b25a"><strong><span>The Epstein files question the FBI Director refused to answer nine times</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Journal did so anyway, and Trump subsequently filed a lawsuit seeking US$20 billion (A$30 billion) in damages and Murdoch's testimony.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite that, Murdoch and his fifth wife Elena were invited for a royal banquet at Windsor Castle. They were part of an intimate guest list that included only about 160 guests, according to royal officials, and was compiled by the Royal Family and the White House.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is the Royal Family that designates the seating arrangement. Trump was to be seated in between King Charles III and Catherine, Princess of Wales, while first lady Melania Trump was to be seated across the table next to Queen Camilla and William, Prince of Wales.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/rupert-murdoch-attends-royal-dinner-for-trump-amid-epstein-lawsuit/396b15ec-f89b-477d-8ac1-f87febd07be1" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/charlie-kirk-shooting-updates-tyler-robinson-feared-being-shot-at-home-turned-himself-in-sheriff-says/03643245-9275-4229-9d35-fe216f769dae"><strong><span>Sheriff reveals why Charlie Kirk suspect turned himself in</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One face who was not at the dinner: The recently ousted British ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, who was fired by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer days before the state visit after his extensive ties to Epstein were revealed in media reports. Warren Stephens, the US ambassador to the Court of St. James, will be present.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Other attendees included White House officials, British dignitaries and business executives like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Nvidia CEO Jensuen Huang, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy, Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan and Softbank Board Director Rene Haas.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As UK officials seek a favourable trade standing with the US, one of Trump's top officials was given a notable seat. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was to be sat next to Queen Camilla. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his wife were also set to attend the dinner.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Over 100 staff were on hand to serve the meal, with guests seated at a long, ornate table decorated with multiple arrangements of bright flowers in differing sizes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Approximately 130 candles stretched across the table, which takes an entire week to put together. Each setting has three forks, three knives, a single spoon and five drinking glasses. A mix of English, French and American wine will be served to guests. A perfectly folded napkin completes the lavish table setting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The menu included a panna cotta de cresson starter, with parmesan shortbread and a quail egg salad.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Guests were then to be served organic Norfolk chicken ballotine wrapped in courgettes with a thyme and savoury infused jus.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dessert was a vanilla ice cream bombe with a Kentish raspberry sorbet interior, alongside lightly poached Victoria plums.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"For most of our menus, we try to make sure we use the best of we can of the seasons," Mark Flanagan, royal chef and assistant to the master for catering, said in a </span><a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dc_MKhvAbw78&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ckate.irby%40cnn.com%7Cc1ebe45354dc40467d7308ddf62eb18b%7C0eb48825e8714459bc72d0ecd68f1f39%7C0%7C0%7C638937402614627743%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=QFroj8giiBYJEqsow5WibnabI5syqFD9LGwzIDSuCuo%3D&amp;reserved=0"><span>video</span></a><span> released by the royal family.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The royal chef was in contact with the White House chef as they curated the menu, though it's ultimately designed with King Charles in mind, whom officials described as having an "eclectic palate."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We always try to reflect and be mindful of the visiting country. We don't try to replicate their style of food, but then we'll put a nod to something in the menu some way," Flanagan said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"For the banquet, we make choices and suggestions and their majesties will make the ultimate decision."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/Z8tJCf"><strong><span>Sign up here</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span>to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.</span></strong></div></div>