King Charles and Queen Camilla's first state visit to the United States in nearly two decades was partly overshadowed on Monday in Washington after a video ofPresident Donald Trump greeting the royal coupleat the White House went viral. The clip quickly prompted claims online that Trump had shown them disrespect through what some viewers described as an'aggressive'handshake.
The footage was filmed on 27 April 2026 asKing Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived at the South Portico of the White Houseand were welcomed by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Shared onXby the Office of the First Lady, the video captured the standard photocall before formal talks. Attention shifted only after viewers began replaying the brief exchange and focusing on Trump's physical gestures towards both royals.
President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcome King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the U.K. at the South Portico of the White House | Monday, April 27, 2026.pic.twitter.com/eLrNqpwN0D
The White House post itself was straightforward. The reaction underneath it was not. Users repeatedly replayed the clip, freezing frames and zooming in on the moment Trump appeared to grip King Charles's hand firmly and place a guiding hand on Queen Camilla's arm.
One user shared a still image of the President's hand on the Queen's arm and wrote: 'This is so disrespectful.' Others said the handshake looked 'aggressive' and framed the encounter as another example of Trump clashing with protocol and ceremony.
The moment tapped into a familiar fascination with how world leaders behave around British royalty. This time, the focus turned quickly to whether King Charles and Queen Camilla had been treated with the right level of formality by their American host.
Several users onXargued that Trump crossed a line by initiating extra physical contact. Under royal convention, rather than strict law, members of the public and visiting dignitaries are generally expected not to initiate touch with a monarch. A handshake is usually considered acceptable if the royal offers it first, while more familiar gestures are strongly discouraged.
Trump is trying his toxic beta-male handshake, and Charles is having absolutely none of it.pic.twitter.com/vNjJcdyR2P
One commenter wrote: 'I do not think you are supposed to touch a King or Queen but, of course, Trump loves breaking protocol.' Another posted: 'I noticed that too. Trump also touched Camilla.' A third added: 'Forget etiquette, Donald has never heard of the word, nor has he heard of respect.'
Those are reactions, not established breaches. But they show how sharply the clip has divided viewers. For some royal watchers, the moment jarred with long standing custom. For others, it was an overread fragment of body language during a tightly choreographed arrival.
Source: International Business Times UK
