Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House on the opening day of their state visit - and it wasn't long before the US president found himself accused of breaching royal protocol.
Following the couple's arrival in the US, they made their way to the White House's south portico for a reception, where they were greeted by the President and posed for photographs. Trump offered the King a firm handshake while the First Lady greeted the Queen with a kiss on both cheeks. The two couples then posed for photos as they exchanged words before the assembled press, reports the Mirror.
Once the photographs had been taken, they turned to head inside the White House's main residence for a garden party. As Trump moved to lead the way, he tapped the King on the shoulder - a gesture that some felt broke royal protocol by initiating physical contact.
No Obligatory Codes of Conduct
However, according to the Royal Family's official website, there are no mandatory rules of conduct when meeting the King, Queen or any other member of the Royal Family. It states: "The King and Queen meet thousands of people each year in the UK and overseas. Before meeting Their Majesties, many people ask how they should behave. The simple answer is that there are no obligatory codes of behaviour - just courtesy."
Body Language Expert Analysis
Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail: "This touch on the arm as they walked in also looked like a more political gesture. It was also the first real gesture of active, 'special' friendship here from a rather more subdued Trump than the very effusive rituals we saw during their last meeting [in September 2025]."
Charles has always seemed more relaxed about that than his mother [Queen Elizabeth II], and Trump's gesture was extremely tempered for Trump. Just a light, tentative and rather polite touch to steer Charles inside, James added.
She noted that the handshake between the two lasted approximately eight seconds and appeared business-like, while Melania introduced a more relaxed atmosphere to the welcome. "This initial greeting ritual gave the surface impression of geniality, and the cheek kisses from Melania created the impression of warmth, with an almost 'family' style approach," James said.
State Visit Continues Despite Security Incident
The King and Queen's state visit follows shortly after a security incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, during which a suspect discharged gunshots in an alleged assassination attempt. Nevertheless, the visit has proceeded as planned and the couple face a packed itinerary. Today, the King and Queen will receive a formal welcome to the United States with a military ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House.
Charles will then address Congress, marking only the second occasion a British monarch has done so, following his mother's address in 1991. In his speech, the King will urge President Trump to "come together" with Britain and our allies to establish peace across the globe. The monarch will propose that the UK and US collaborate to advance security and prosperity. The address, expected to last 20 minutes and drafted on the advice of the Government - which has faced considerable criticism from Trump in recent weeks - will see the King declare that at the heart of both nations lies "a generosity of spirit and a duty to foster compassion, to promote peace, to deepen mutual understanding and to value people of all faiths and none."
