Donald Trump breaks royal protocol with King Charles during White House state visit
King Charles and Queen Camilla are on a state visit to the US, with the royal couple attending a reception at the White House on Monday where Trump broke royal protocol
Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the White House for the opening day of their state visit.
It wasn't long before the US president breached royal protocol.
Following the couple's arrival in the US, they made their way to the White House's South Lawn for a reception, where they were greeted by the President and photographed together.
Donald Trump extended a firm handshake to the King while the First Lady kissed the Queen on both cheeks - the couple then posed for photographs as they exchanged pleasantries.
Once the pictures had been taken, they turned to head inside the White House's main residence for a garden party. As Trump pivoted to move forward, he tapped the King on the shoulder.
This gesture breached royal protocol, violating the unwritten rule against initiating physical contact.
While the movement could be interpreted as a sign of warmth, 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 observed that the King appeared unfazed by this breach of protocol.
"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 observed that the handshake between the two lasted roughly eight seconds and appeared formal in nature, while Melania brought a more relaxed atmosphere to the reception.
"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.
This is not the first time Trump has been seen breaking royal protocol with British monarchs.
During a state visit to the UK in July 2018, he was photographed turning away from the Queen and walking ahead of her as they passed the troops.
He also appeared to breach protocol during his visit to London last year, when he gripped Charles above the elbow.
The King and Queen's state visit comes shortly after a security incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, during which a suspect fired shots in an alleged assassination attempt.
Despite this, the visit has gone ahead and the couple are faced with a busy schedule.
On Tuesday, Charles will address Congress, making him only the second British monarch to do so, following his mother who did so in 1991.