URGENT UPDATE: New revelations about former President Donald Trump‘s 2018 visit to the UK reveal that despite breaching royal protocol by stepping ahead of Queen Elizabeth II, she remained unfazed by his actions. Royal correspondent Rebecca English shared these insights during a recent episode of Palace Confidential, emphasizing that the Queen did not take offense at the moment that drew widespread criticism.
During the visit, Trump appeared anxious about the expected decorum while reviewing the Queen’s Guard at Buckingham Palace. Traditionally, the monarch leads this event with others maintaining a respectful distance, a protocol that Trump did not observe. English stated, “Of all the people who were offended by this, the one person who wasn’t offended was the Queen,” highlighting her calm demeanor.
CNN commentators described Trump as behaving as if he were “walking up and down a golf course,” raising concerns over his seriousness regarding the occasion. Yet, English noted that he may have simply felt overwhelmed by the royal atmosphere.
As Trump prepares for a second state visit to the UK from September 17 to 19, 2019, King Charles III reportedly has concerns about the upcoming visit. English revealed, “I’ve spoken to people really close to [the Queen], and I think it’s one of those cases where the people around the principal get more worked up than the principal does themselves.”
Furthermore, during their initial meeting, the Queen was surprisingly engaged, extending their scheduled 20-minute encounter to 40 minutes because, according to royal biographer Robert Hardman, she genuinely enjoyed the interaction. Hardman noted, “The visit had been scheduled to last 20 minutes but went on for 40,” emphasizing the unexpected connection.
As Trump gears up for his upcoming visit, discussions are circulating about a potential state dinner. However, King Charles is reportedly hesitant to spend all three days with Trump, suggesting that Sir Keir Starmer may play a significant role in entertaining the former president during his stay, as reported by ITV’s Richard Peston.
The upcoming state visit promises to be another moment of scrutiny for Trump, who has previously faced backlash for his protocol breaches. As the date approaches, all eyes will be on how the royal family manages this high-profile meeting.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to follow this developing story.