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President Donald Trump was left scratching his head when asked if he recognised a statue of a horse during a tour of Buckingham Palace this afternoon - but his wife saved the day by pointing out that he gave it to the Queen last year as a gift.

Her Majesty took the president and First Lady Melania Trump around an exhibition of American artefacts, items reflecting Mr Trump's Scottish heritage and love of golf, and documents and photos relating to royal visits to the US.

But when they came across a thoroughbred in polished pewter, the US leader did not know the artwork was his gift to the Queen when they met in July last year - yet Mrs Trump did.

Asked if he recognised it, Mr Trump replied 'no' but Melania immediately stepped in to say 'I think we gave that to The Queen. 

Tim Knox, director of the Royal Collection who joined the Queen during the tour, said Mr Trump gave the monarch the horse when he had tea with her at Windsor Castle. 

He added that when Mr Trump was asked if he recognised it, he said "no" but "the First Lady did recognise it, which is rather nice".   

The president is a well-known golf fan and he and the Queen pored over pictures of her father King George VI and uncle King Edward VIII playing golf at St Andrews in Scotland in the 1920s.

Nearby was a piece of MacLeod tartan - the family of the president's mother - and Mr Trump quickly spotted the yellow material which, like all the items, was from the Royal Collection.

Mr Knox said: "He immediately recognised it and said, 'That's my tweed'."

The Queen led the Trumps around the exhibition in the palace's picture gallery after hosting a private lunch for them attended by the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke of Sussex, Duke of York and members of the Queen's household and president's entourage.

Her Majesty has shown President Donald Trump a collection of Royal artefacts during his visit to Buckingham Palace today.

The display took place during the President's visit to the Palace and included the Declaration of Independence. The particular copy being shown is one of 200 which was printed by Francis Bailey in 1781, and these are some of the most important documents in the history of the United States. 

Melania, the Queen and President Trump come together to look through various photos and artefacts from the Royal Collection

The display of US treasures was separated by eight tables. Melania looked delighted at the various objects and is seen looking at some tartan

During the tour, Trump failed to recognise this American Pewter Thoroughbred ornament which was gifted to the Queen by Trump on his visit to Windsor in 2018, which is now being displayed as being part of the Royal Collection. But Melania immediately remembered it and reminded her husband

The Declaration of Independence was also put on display. The particular copy was on of 200 which had been specially printed

The Queen wore a beautiful floral dress and pearls while showing the President around the display (right) and was keen to point out particular photographs (left)

 The book is a first edition and was published by order of Congress, of the complete constitutions of the individual states of America, the Declaration of Independence. 

They are comprised of the articles of confederation between the states and the alliance between the United States and France, signed in 1778. 

It also included a coloured engraved portrait of George Washington, as well as a map of New York from 1775.

Ivanka Trump and her husband senior advisor to the President Jared Kushner also viewed displays of US items of the Royal Collection with Britain's Prince Andrew. 

Prior to viewing the display, the Queen had gifted the President with a 1959 first edition of The Second World War by Winston Churchill, complete with a leather box and a three-piece Duofold pen set. 

She also gave Melania a a specially commissioned silver box with an enamel lid.

One of the items on display was a pewter horse that the President had himself gifted to the Queen last year. Although it was clear he hadn't personally been in charge of selecting the gift as when he was asked if he recognised it he said no.

Doting wife Melania came to his rescue and offered that they had in fact gifted the item to the Queen themselves in a previous visit.

Artefacts were be displayed across eight tables in the Palace this afternoon, with each table having its own theme.

Table one is named the 'A Tale of Two Georges: George III and George Washington'. This table with start with the Declaration of Independence. 

Other items on the table will include an engraved portrait of George Washington, a mezzotint of George III, a letter from Washington to John Jay about the Constitution and entering politics, a map of New York from 1775 and Joseph Farington's account of George III and Benjamin West's conversation about George Washington.

Table two is titled 'Catesby's Natural History, this include the Natural History of Carolina's, Florida and the Bahama Islands vol.1, open at red cardinal, as well as a watercolour of a Bald Eagle.

Table three will have just one artefact, which is Audubon's Bird's of America. The book will be left open at 'The Bird of Washington'.

Watercolour and gouache heightened with gum arabic, over pen and brown ink and traces of graphite - the Bald Eagle was displayed as part of the offering which was put on for Donald Trump

The Clan MacLeod tartan, in reference to the President's mother Mary Anne MacLeod, is seen in a book as part of the Royal Collection which had been set up for the President to view 

President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Queen Elizabeth II, walk in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace where the tables are laid out with various items

A selection of side tables will be in between three and four which will display a gift from President Trump following a lunch at Windsor in 2018, which looks to be an ornamental horse.

The side tables will also include an etched glass plate depicting a pelican from Audubon, as well as an etched glass plate showing a Bald Eagle - also from Audubon.

Table four is named the Scottish links and will show a bolt of Harris tweed, a view of Stornoway and a standing stone from William Daniell's Voyage Around Great Britain.

It also included a book of tartans showing the McLeod tartan as well as a picture of King Edward VIII as Prince of Wales playing golf at St Andrews.

Other items on table four will include a picture of King George VI as the Duke of York playing golf at St Andrews, as well as a letter from King George VI when he was 6-years-old to King George V informing his father he had been beaten David by five holes.

Table five is entitled 'The 1939 Royal Visit' and showcases a letter of invitation from President Roosevelt to King George VI. It also shows itineraries, route and a musical programme for a visit and entertainment at the White House.

Other items included are a photo of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Hyde Park in New York with the Roosevelts, as well as a photo of King George VI arriving at the US Capitol building. 

A map of New York from 1775, pictured above which shows the north of the Hudson River, as well as the East Or Sound River 

A display of other items from the Royal Collection included a watercolour of the Bald Eagle (pictured at the back) as well as a book left open on a page with a red bird

Ivanka Trump and her husband Senior Advisor to the President of the United States Jared Kushner view displays of US items of the Royal Collection with Britain's Prince Andrew

Memorabilia from the Royal Collection included a vast amount of photos, correspondence and books 

A five volume specially bound set of Roosevelt's speeches presented to  King George VI were also displayed, a next to them a telegram of thanks from the King himself.

Next on the list is table six which is entitled 'The World of Tomorrow' and was a chance for the Royals to showcase more photographs and even some jewellery.

The first piece is a route map of Queen Elizabeth's and King George VI's route taken at the world fair. This is placed next to a photograph with press cuttings of the arrival of the pair at the fair.

Other photographs show Queen Elizabeth and King George VI in a car in front of the Trylong and Perisphere, while one shows a procession through New York.

Also on display are two charm bracelets from the World Fair as well as a Cartier dress thermometer and clock. 

Table seven is titled the 'Industrial Exchange' and shows a Joseph Nash water colour of the American section of the Great Exhibition, as well as an account of George Peabody's dinner given in honour of the American exhibitors at the Great Exhibition.

Other pieces include a hand coloured print of the New York 'crystal palace' in 1853. Displayed next to it, a model of a Model T Ford given to the HRH Duke of Edinburgh in 2000.

There is also a model of a Rolls Royce engine given to the HRH Duke of Edinburgh in 1982 on a visit to Seattle.

Last but by no means least is table eight which featured a range of different war time artefacts, with the table being entitled 'Wartime Allies'.

The first piece is a 'Short Guide for Servicemen in Great Britain', followed by a photograph of King George VI meeting Eisenhower in north Africa in 1943.

Also on display is a photo of the two meeting in France in 1944, as well as a photograph of Churchill on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with the Royal Family on VE Day.

It also includes a copy of 'The Gathering Storm' which was presented to King George VI by Winston Churchill.

Next to this is 'The Crusade in Europe' by Eisenhower, which was presented to King George VI.

There is also a draft copy of a telegram sent by King George VI to Eisenhower following D-Day. Next to this is a letter from King George VI to Churchill encouraging him not to attend D-Day in person - along with Churchill's reply.  

George Washington (1732-99) First President of the United States, Half-Length Portrait, Drawn by B. Trott, Engraved by Christian Gobrecht was also on display