Donald Trump has already breached royal protocol in his first interaction with King Charles III as the monarch and Queen Camilla land in the US for their four-day state visit. The US President and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed the King and Queen to the White House on Monday on the first day of the visit.
Protocol Breach at the White House
After the couple landed in the US, they arrived at the White House's South Lawn for a reception, where they were greeted by the President and posed for pictures. Trump was seen initiating contact with the King, breaking the unwritten rule to never initiate physical contact with a monarch. He gave the King a firm handshake, and the First Lady kissed the Queen on both cheeks. As they turned to head inside for a garden party, Trump tapped the King on the shoulder.
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." James added that the King did not seem to mind the breach. "Charles has always seemed more relaxed about that than his mother, and Trump's gesture was extremely tempered for Trump. Just a light, tentative and rather polite touch to steer Charles inside."
James noted that the handshake lasted roughly eight seconds and appeared businesslike, whereas Melania brought a more relaxed feel. "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."
Trump's History of Protocol Breaches
This is not the first time Trump has broken royal protocol with British monarchs. During a state visit to the UK in July 2018, he was captured turning his back on Queen Elizabeth II and marching in front of her as they walked past troops. He also appeared to break protocol on his visit to London last year, grabbing Charles above the elbow.
State Visit Continues Despite Security Concerns
The King and Queen's state visit comes just after a security breach at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, in which a suspect fired gunshots in an alleged assassination attempt. Despite this, the visit has gone ahead, and the couple have a packed schedule. On Tuesday, Charles will address Congress, marking the second time a British monarch has done so, the first being his mother in 1991.
