Did Melania Break Royal Protocol by Not Curtsying to Charles and Camilla?
First Lady Melania Trump accompanied President Donald Trump for their highly anticipated second UK state visit on September 17. After receiving a warm welcome from Prince William and Kate Middleton at Windsor Castle, the couple was escorted to meet King Charles and Queen Camilla. Royal observers, however, were surprised to see that neither Donald nor Melania curtsied to the King and Queen. Instead, they opted for a formal handshake — a gesture that the Palace confirms does not breach royal protocol.
After stepping off Marine One on the Windsor grounds, Donald greeted William with a firm handshake and a pat on the shoulder before turning to Middleton and gushing, "You’re beautiful, so beautiful." The Presidential couple did not curtsy to the Waleses. Outlining the rules to be followed while meeting a royal, the family’s official website states, "There are no obligatory codes of behavior when meeting a member of the royal family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms." It further explains, "For men, this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way," clearing Melania from any potential protocol break.
The rules on curtsying also became a topic of much debate in 2019, when Donald shook hands with the late Queen Elizabeth, instead of bowing to her. During his first state visit in 2019, he famously put his hand on her back, sparking outrage among many. Royals are generally known to be less tactile, only opting for firm handshakes. While Melania seems to be in the clear, Donald did commit a small breach soon after. When the US anthem played, he inadvertently performed a military salute. According to 36 US Code § 301, only individuals in uniform, service members, or veterans are supposed to salute. The code states, "All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart."
Interestingly, it wasn't just Melania who did not curtsy to the King and Queen. The Princess of Wales also refrained from doing so. Many have, however, argued that she must have already curtsied to Charles and Camilla while preparing for the visit, not making it compulsory to greet them in public again.
As for the lavish event, Donald and Melania were welcomed with a Royal Salute fired from both the East Lawn of Windsor Castle and at the Tower of London. For the carriage procession through the Palace grounds, Donald was seated beside Charles while Melania accompanied Camilla. The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment escorted the royals and the Trumps, while military bands from the Royal Marines, Army, and Royal Air Force performed both the US and UK national anthems. Later, the presidential couple joined the King and Queen in the Castle's Green Drawing Room to view a special display of items, as they prepared themselves for a grand state banquet dinner.