Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the White House on Monday for the opening day of their state visit. The US president quickly breached royal protocol by tapping the King on the shoulder as they turned to head inside for a garden party.
The breach occurred after the couples posed for photographs on the South Lawn. As they pivoted to move forward, Trump placed a hand on the King's shoulder, violating the unwritten rule against initiating physical contact with the monarch.
Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail that the gesture appeared more political than warm. 'This touch on the arm as they walked in also looked like a more political gesture,' she said, noting that the King seemed unfazed. 'Charles has always seemed more relaxed about that than his mother.'
James observed that the initial handshake lasted roughly eight seconds and was formal, while Melania's cheek kisses created a warmer, 'almost family-style' atmosphere. This is not the first time Trump has breached royal protocol; he previously turned his back on Queen Elizabeth II during a 2018 state visit and gripped Charles above the elbow in 2024.
The King and Queen's visit comes shortly after a security incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, where a suspect fired shots in an alleged assassination attempt. Despite this, the visit has proceeded, with Charles scheduled to address Congress on Tuesday, becoming only the second British monarch to do so.
