TRUMP UK VISIT: THE ROYAL PROTOCOL THE US PRESIDENT WILL FOLLOW WHEN MEETING THE QUEEN - Independent

TRUMP UK VISIT: THE ROYAL PROTOCOL THE US PRESIDENT WILL FOLLOW WHEN MEETING THE QUEEN
Many are wondering how the president will fare when he meets the Queen for the first time
July 6, 2018
SABRINA BARR
@fabsab5

With around a week to go until the US president arrives in the UK, the question of how Donald Trump will fare when meeting Her Majesty the Queen has become a widely discussed topic of conversation.

The Queen has made the acquaintance of almost every acting US president since 1945, starting with Harry Truman whom she met while visiting Washington, DC as a princess in 1951.

There are number of rules that Trump will be expected to follow when he meets the reigning British monarch for the first time, some of which are more regimented than others.

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"Whilst this is not a full state visit, it will be a meeting of two heads of state, and therefore formalities should be observed," Rupert Wesson, Debrett's academy director, tells The Independent.

"There will be a handful of subtle differences, but not many. For instance, the Queen tends not to shake hands with everyone she meets.

"However, in this case it would be surprising if she didn't."

The Queen is expected to host Trump at Windsor Castle when they meet on Friday 13 July, with the castle remaining closed to the public throughout the day.

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While Trump will probably be instructed on how to address the Queen in the appropriate manner, the royal family are apparently more relaxed nowadays in regard to royal protocol than they used to be.

"It isn't as much a case of meeting the Queen, but rather being presented to her (typically by one of her courtiers)," Mr Wesson explains.

"In this instance, they will likely say: 'Your Majesty, may I present Mr Donald Trump.'

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"It is customary for men to bow, however this is a very subtle gesture and not exaggerated - the Queen is said to be quite relaxed about this."

The royal family has outlined the proper way in which to address the Queen, tips that Trump will have to take heed of prior to his visit.

When greeting the monarch for the first time, the president will be expected to call her “Your Majesty”, before then referring to her as “Ma’am”, pronounced in the same manner as “jam”.

Trump will likely then bow to the Queen from the neck, while the First Lady will give the royal a small curtsy.


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Depending on how the Queen decides to receive the president, the pair may also shake hands.

"The rules are not official or written down but rather an understanding," explains etiquette expert Grant Harrold, otherwise known as 'The Royal Butler'.

"President Trump should not offer his hand to the Queen for a handshake but he will have to wait for the Queen to offer the handshake.

"Only then may he accept and he must remember the grip should not be too tight or too loose, and it is two to three pumps then hands go back to your side."

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Mr Wesson believes that Trump will probably speak first after he's been introduced, with the Queen then following suit.

Furthermore, as it is their first meeting, Mr Harrold suspects that the pair will discuss general topics as opposed to personal matters.

It’s been reported that Trump will also be attending a dinner at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire during his UK visit, with the estate revealing on its website that the palace, park and gardens will be closed on 11 and 12 July.

While the feast will supposedly be hosted by Theresa May and attended by an assortment of business leaders as opposed to members of the royal family, Trump will still expected to follow certain rules in keeping with formal dinner etiquette.

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According to Debrett’s, when dining at a formal meal, guests should refrain from hunching in their chairs, starting the meal before anyone else and talking with their mouths full.

Furthermore, if any speeches are being given during the evening, talking during the oration is considered rude.

In 2017, Canada’s governor general David Johnston appeared to breach royal protocol by making physical contact with the Queen while helping her down a flight of stairs at Canada House in London. 

However, while many may have assumed any physical contact with the Queen is strictly off limits in keeping with royal protocol, Michelle Obama’s famous hug with the monarch proves that this isn’t necessarily the case.