Donald Trump was accused of disrespecting King Charles by walking ahead of him, but a royal expert says the former president didn’t actually break protocol.
Donald Trump has been accused of disrespecting King Charles III after walking ahead of him during a military inspection at Windsor Castle—but according to a royal expert, the former president didn’t actually break any rules.
The Trumps are in the UK for a short state visit, where they were welcomed by Prince William and Princess Kate before being introduced to King Charles and Queen Camilla. Around 1,500 troops were involved in the ceremonial events—nearly double the number deployed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit.
The Controversy
During one key moment, Trump and King Charles carried out a guard inspection. Footage showed Trump walking ahead of the monarch, leading to criticism online, with some branding his behavior “disrespectful” and “a disgrace.”
Expert Opinion
However, former royal butler Grant Harrold, who worked for the monarchy for over seven years, explained that Trump did not actually breach protocol.
Harrold told UNILAD:
“It’s not actually a breach of royal protocol to walk in front of royals. If you look back at previous State Visits, you see the likes of Clinton walking in front of Prince Philip. The visiting Head of State is the one receiving the military welcome, so it’s not unusual for them to be front and center.”
He added that the King allowing Trump to walk ahead was part of showing courtesy to his guest:
“In terms of etiquette generally, Trump is the guest and this inspection is for him. Therefore it’s polite for the King to let his guest walk ahead and get the full impact of this powerful piece of British military tradition.”
No Need to Bow or Curtsy
Harrold also addressed criticism of Trump and Melania for not bowing or curtsying to the royals. He clarified that such gestures are not required from foreign dignitaries.
“It’s important to remember that certain royal rules—like bowing and curtsying—only apply to people in the UK and the Commonwealth. You bow to the title, not the person. So Trump doesn’t actually need to bow to the King.”
Bottom Line
While Trump’s actions drew backlash online, royal experts argue his conduct was within the bounds of state visit etiquette. In fact, allowing a visiting head of state to take the lead is often considered a sign of respect by the monarch.
Featured Image Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
