Britain and the United States on Friday reaffirmed their "highest level of special" relations as leaders of the two countries met amid expectation discrepancies and widespread protests.

U.S. President Donald Trump wrapped up his two-day working visit in and around London where he took tea with Queen Elizabeth II and held face-to-face talks with Prime Minister Theresa May, as well as saw one of the biggest ever security operations in the British capital.

Demonstrations took place in dozens of cities and towns across Britain, and the focal point for anti-Trump protests was in London. Tens of thousands of men, women and children crammed the streets of central London on Friday to vent their anger over Trump's first time setting foot on British soil.

SPECIAL RELATIONS

Despite the rings of steel placed around the Houses of Parliament and noisy demonstrators across the country, Trump managed to complete his itinerary.

At Sandhurst, Britain's elite academy where military officers undergo training, Trump watched a display, travelling later in the now customary helicopter to Chequers, the prime minister's country retreat in Buckinghamshire where he and May held talks.

Trump, holding May's hand, approached the podium looking to the world like the best of friends. In an interview with British newspaper The Sun published in Friday's edition, Trump said that May's Brexit policy would mean the United States would not be able to enter a trade deal with Britain in the future.H The president was quoted as saying: "If they do a deal like that, we would be dealing with the European Union instead of dealing with the UK, so it will probably kill the deal."

To add to May's woes, Trump also said he thought Boris Johnson, who has quit earlier this week as foreign secretary, would make a good British prime minister.

Hungry media people were desperate to know how the pair had gotten along in their bilateral meeting after what seemed to be damning front page headlines.

Hours after he told The Sun May's Brexit plan could kill an agreement, Trump said the relationship between the two allies is at "the highest level of special" after talks at Chequers, and a post-Brexit trade deal between the two countries "will absolutely be possible", which is in sharp contrast to the headlines.

He then showered praise on May, describing the prime minister as an incredible woman and a very tough negotiator who was doing a fantastic job. He would prefer to have her as a friend than an enemy, he added.

Local media reported that Trump was more than 10 minutes late for his appointment at Windsor Castle with Queen Elizabeth. The 92 years old monarch was seen to check her watch twice as she waited for the president to arrive for his cup of tea. Another report said the meeting between the Queen and the visiting U.S. president and his wife Melania lasted 17 minutes longer than scheduled.

WIDESPREAD PROTESTS

Organizers of the anti-Trump demonstrations in London said that nearly 250,000 people had taken part on Friday.

Although Trump's itinerary was organized to ensure he steered clear of the protests, worldwide coverage of the demonstrations was enough to illustrate how many British feel about his first visit to the country since he took office. Many chanted one of the key slogans of the day, "Donald Trump not welcome here."

"Donald Trump. You came, you saw, and we told you where to go," journalist and campaigner Owen Jones told the crowd.

In Parliament Square, a larger-than-life balloon depicting Trump as a baby wearing a diaper became one of the most photographed images during the day.

As thousands of demonstrators protested Trump's visit in London, a few thousand were gathering in Glasgow to wait for the president as he arrived for a weekend visit to his golf resort on Scotland's west coast.

The Glasgow protesters followed in line with other anti-Trump protests, with banners and placards making it clear that Trump was not welcome in Britain.

DEEP DISCREPANCIES

Whether or not the so-called special relationship remains intact, there was a word of caution Friday from Dr. Jacob Parakilas, deputy head of the U.S. and Americas program at London-based think-tank Chatham House.

"The relationship is further back than it was a few days ago," Parakilas told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

Trump's criticism of May's Brexit policies has damaged the so-called special relationship between the two nations, said the expert.

"Both May and Trump tried to put a good face on at the press conference ... Other issues will divide the two again. How they handle it when they are not both standing on the stage next to each other will be interesting. The prime minister will be hoping for a calm remainder of the visit," Parakilas said.

British media were negative on Trump's visit.

"The presidential hurricane had swept through southern England, uprooting protocols, rattling institutions and leaving politicians with a sense of whiplash," British daily newspaper The Guardian said in a commentary. "As the disrupter-in-chief's MV-22 Osprey helicopters departed, Theresa May could be forgiven for breathing a sigh of relief familiar to any sorely tested host."