Trump accused of breaking royal protocol with King – but did he really breach rule?

Many said the US President breached royal protocol in his first interaction with King Charles as the monarch and Queen Camilla on their four-day state visit – but it seems it wasn’t the case

Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House on their first day of the state visit – and it didn’t take long for the US president to be accused of breaking royal protocol.

After the couple landed in the US they arrived at the White House’s south porticofor a reception, where they were greeted by the President and posed for pictures.

Trump gave the King a firm handshake as the First Lady kissed the Queen on both cheeks – the couple then posed for photographs as they exchanged remarks in front of the press.

After the pictures were captured, they turned to head inside the White House’s main residence for a garden party. As Trump turned to make his way, he tapped the King on the shoulder. Some believed this action broke royal protocol of never initiating physical contact.

However, as the Royal Family‘s official website states, there is no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting the King, Queen or any other member of the Royal Family. It says: “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 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 said that the handshake shared between the pair lasted roughly eight seconds and appeared businesslike whereas Melania brought a more relaxed feel 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.

The King and Queen’s state visit comes just after a security breach at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, in which a suspect fire gunshots in an alleged assassination attempt.

Despite this, the visit has gone ahead and the couple have a jam-packed schedule. Today, the King and Queen will be formally welcomed to the United States with a military ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House.

After Charles will address Congress, marking the second time a British monarch has done so, the first being his mother in 1991. In his speech, the King will appeal to President Trump to “come together” with Britain and our allies to forge peace around the world.

The monarch will suggest the UK and US should work together to promote security and prosperity. The address, which is expected to last 20 minutes and written on the advice of the government which has been heavily criticised by Trump in recent weeks, the King will say in the hearts of our two 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”.