King Charles III and Queen Camilla's US state visit has seen Donald Trump and Melania accused of breaking protocol once again, but much of the latest controversy appears to be unfounded. The President and First Lady greeted the royals with kisses and handshakes after they touched down in the US today, prompting questions about protocol during the potentially pivotal royal visit.
No Bow or Curtsy from Trumps
Donald Trump, a known longtime fan of the Royal Family and its pomp and pageantry, did not bow when meeting King Charles and Queen Camilla as they arrived this evening. Instead, they traded handshakes with the pair before standing alongside them for a picture outside the White House. This is something for which the President was once chided in 2018 when he failed to bow to Queen Elizabeth II as most members of the public would.
But, in reality, despite the fallout during that last meetup and renewed controversy following the latest visit, the issue is not quite as serious as most people might believe. One shocked onlooker said: “Trump did not bow to King Charles. Protocol shattered. The answer is written in plain sight who walks ahead, inspects the guard, and takes the place of honour? That is the king.” Another added: “Oh god..he’s walking infront of the King, like Charles doesn’t even exist or matter!”
Royal Protocol Clarified
However, the protocol is not strictly observed by the two royals, who do not subscribe to them by the letter. The Royal Family's official site states: "There are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting a member of the Royal Family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms. For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way."
Thus, the Trumps' actions were entirely within acceptable norms, and the controversy is largely based on a misunderstanding of royal etiquette.
