Queen Camilla taps King Charles as US president arrives for state visit, expert says
A body language analyst said the brief gesture drew attention after King Charles appeared focused on President Donald Trump during greetings at Windsor Castle.
Queen Camilla briefly touched King Charles III’s arm as the monarch greeted President Donald Trump during the US president’s state visit arrival at Windsor Castle, a body language expert told the Daily Mail, calling the move a rare public correction.
Video and photographs published by the Daily Mail showed the moment as the royal party — the King, Queen, Prince William and Princess Kate — met the president and First Lady Melania Trump on Wednesday at the start of the two-day state visit. The expert, Judi James, told the newspaper that Charles appeared especially focused on Trump, prompting Camilla to lean forward and tap the king’s arm to draw his attention to the rest of the group.
According to the account in the Daily Mail, Prince William introduced the president to his father outside Victoria House, saying, “this is my father,” before Charles and Trump shook hands. The two men were reported to have chatted warmly and exchanged gestures of familiarity, with the president placing his hand on the king’s arm during the handshake. James described Charles as “beaming with pleasure” and said the interaction suggested a friendly, informal tone between the leaders.
The Trumps, the king and queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales then rode in carriages in a procession across the Windsor estate toward the castle. The ceremonial welcome accompanying the arrival was among the largest for a state visit in recent memory, involving approximately 120 horses and 1,300 military personnel. Organizers said 160 personnel came from the Royal Marines and Royal Navy, about 1,000 from the British Army and 140 from the Royal Air Force. Eighty soldiers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment formed the Sovereign’s Escort, with Life Guards and Blues and Royals in traditional dress.
The procession route, closed to the public, was lined by 22 half-companies of service personnel drawn from the four branches of the United Kingdom’s armed forces. The scale of the ceremony exceeded that for President Emmanuel Macron’s visit in July, when officials said around 850 personnel took part.
The Daily Mail also reported that a lip reader heard the president tell Princess Kate, “You’re beautiful,” during the greeting; that detail and the body language analysis were presented by the newspaper and its experts. Media coverage noted that the route passed close to Frogmore House and Frogmore Cottage, sites associated with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Officials said the president will not take part in public-facing engagements during the visit amid expectations of protests. Demonstrations were planned in response to Mr. Trump’s policies and public statements, and security arrangements reflected the high-profile nature of the state welcome.
The state visit marked President Trump’s second visit to Britain while holding office. Commentaries by body language analysts and media outlets focused on the personal dynamics observed during the arrival, while official statements centered on the ceremonial aspects and the diplomatic itinerary for the two-day visit.