Queen Camilla appears to motion Kate Middleton away from Melania Trump during Windsor state visit moment

A brief moment captured on video at Windsor Castle shows Queen Camilla appearing to motion Princess Kate to move away from First Lady Melania Trump during the welcome as U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife arrived for a days-long state visit to the United Kingdom on Sept. 17, 2025.

The sequence began with the Trumps being greeted by Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, on the grounds of Windsor Castle. After the initial greeting, William and Middleton escorted the president and first lady to meet King Charles III and Queen Camilla outside Victoria House. The royal couple greeted the guests warmly, and private secretaries for the two sides—Sir Clive Alderton for the royal family and Sophie Densham for the Trump entourage—were present as conversations began.

As Trump and Melania spoke with Charles and Camilla, Middleton moved into a conversation with the first lady. In the video, the Queen is shown turning toward Middleton and appearing to gesture for her to step back or move along, followed by Middleton obliging the cue. The moment unfolded as the group cleared a path for horse-drawn carriages that would take the senior royals and the U.S. delegation toward Windsor Castle for additional ceremonies.

The moment drew attention not only for the apparent etiquette cue but also for questions about royal protocol itself. The royal family’s official website notes that there are no obligatory codes of behavior when meeting a member of the Royal Family, though traditional forms—such as a neck bow from men, a small curtsy from women, or a handshake—are customary and sometimes observed depending on personal preference.

Beyond the moment, Trump also drew headlines for his compliments toward Middleton as he arrived for the welcome. He told the princess, “You’re beautiful, so beautiful,” a remark that amplified media interest in the public-facing aspects of the visit. The exchange occurred as part of a broader ceremonial program that included a private luncheon for the Trump delegation and a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II inside St. George’s Chapel.

During the day’s official program, the Trumps and the royal family participated in a Beating Retreat ceremony, a military procession that marks the end of daily duties and the lowering of ceremonial flags. The event drew roughly 200 military musicians and has roots dating to the 17th century, underscoring the historical gravity of the state visit.

The Sept. 17 events at Windsor Castle represented the second time King Charles has hosted President Trump since the monarch’s accession in 2022. While some observers noted moments that seemed to depart from strict protocol, the palace and the White House have emphasized that there are varying interpretations of etiquette and that no formal breach was officially declared.

Images captured during the day offer a visual backdrop to the choreography of a state visit that blends long-standing ceremonial forms with contemporary diplomacy. The Windsor appearance of Camilla, Middleton, Melania, and Trump sits amid a longer program that includes introductions to the royal household, private diplomacy between the king and president, and a series of public-facing scenes intended to project continuity and alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States.

As the day concluded, the president and first lady prepared to depart for further engagements in the U.K., with the royal household arranging additional events to accompany the state visit. The architecture of the visit—comprising formal introductions, private conversations, and highly choreographed public appearances—continues to shape impressions of the royal family and its role in modern diplomacy.

In addition to the greeting moment, a separate sequence captured Melania Trump and Queen Camilla meeting members of the Armed Forces after a Beating Retreat ceremony. The Beating Retreat, a ceremonial tradition intended to symbolize the closing of military gates and the day’s duties, was attended by a large delegation of musicians and military personnel, underscoring the ceremonial gravity of the state visit.

Officials have stressed that royal protocol allows for flexible interpretation in many social situations. While some press coverage contends that Trump and Melania broke traditional forms by not performing a curtsy or bow when meeting Charles and Camilla, royal aides have pointed to official guidance that emphasizes voluntary customs rather than rigid obligations.

The day’s events fit into a broader pattern of transatlantic diplomacy, with the United States and the United Kingdom signaling continued cooperation on a range of security, economic, and cultural interests. The Windsor schedule is a centerpiece of a long-standing tradition in which the British monarchy serves as a ceremonial pillar in relations with the United States, even as critics debate the relevance of such pageantry in a modern democracy.

The state visit, which follows Trump’s first trip to the U.K. in 2018 and his second in 2025, occurred as Britain prepared for a busy fall political calendar and the royal family navigated ongoing debates about public duties and media coverage. Observers note that the day’s public-facing moments—whether they involve gestures by Camilla or compliments from Trump—contribute to a narrative of continuity and adaptability in Britain’s constitutional monarchy.

The full schedule of the visit included a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II, private luncheons, and multiple encounters with members of the Royal Household and the Armed Forces. The day’s events culminated with a procession featuring horse-drawn carriages, linking the modern state visit with centuries of ceremonial tradition that continue to shape international perceptions of the United Kingdom.