Donald Trump appeared to break royal protocol within seconds of stepping off the Marine One helicopter, as the first full day of their State Visit to the UK began in style . The US President and his wife, Melania, reached Windsor Castle on Wednesday, September 17, to kick off their first full day of engagements, part of their second state visit to the UK.
Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, were waiting for them in the castle’s gardens, and gave the President and First Lady a warm welcome. Within seconds of stepping off the helicopter, Mr Trump shook hands with the Prince of Wales. While this is in line with the royal protocol, the US President appeared to go one step further, bringing up his left arm to hit William on the arm as the handshake ended. Trump, and indeed other US Presidents, have breached royal protocol in this manner before – and royal experts told the Express the household was unlikely to take any offence at the gesture.
The US president emerged from his Marine One helicopter with his wife Melania at 12.16pm.
The arrival was celebrated with music from The Band of the Household Cavalry, who were wearing state dress – a uniform designed in the 17th century and made from pure gold thread.
The Prince and Princess of Wales greeted the pair after arriving at the Walled Garden, in the Royal Kitchen Gardens at Frogmore on Windsor’s private Home Park estate.
The American leader and First Lady were treated to a personal, family-centred greeting outside Victoria House, a little-known property nestled in the Royal Kitchen Gardens at Frogmore on the private Windsor estate.
William and Kate were deployed at the start of the royal charm offensive to greet the Trumps who arrived in Marine One, the call sign of the United States Marine Corps aircraft carrying the president.
The King then welcomed Donald Trump to Windsor.
As the pair met, a 41-round gun salute was fired from six First World War era guns simultaneously by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle, while the Honourable Artillery Company stages a salute more than 20 miles away at the Tower of London.
The scale and spectacle of the military ceremonial on show for Mr Trump is unprecedented and marks the largest military ceremonial welcome for a state visit to the UK in living memory.