Charles & Kate Accused of Snubbing Trump in Leaked State Visit Video After Reports of the Princess’ True Feelings Toward the President Calling Her ‘Beautiful’
Protocol can be easily misunderstood because the rules governing it, particularly when it comes to the British royal family, are not well-known. This is exactly what has happened with the state visit from US President Donald Trump to the UK, where there have already been a couple of instances, like the President and First Lady not bowing and curtsying, respectively, that people have taken offense to. And now, another moment from the banquet has surfaced that could be interpreted in a few different ways.
The moment, seen on a video that was posted to TikTok, shows guests standing to clap during President Trump’s speech. However, the video also shows King Charles and Kate Middleton sitting down while the guests clapped, which people are interpreting as a snub.
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Was it? Unlikely, considering the entire point of the state visit was to strengthen the diplomatic bond between the two countries. It’s more likely that the standing ovation was not in the program, and both the King and the Princess of Wales followed protocol by sitting down. There has, after all, been no comment about the fact, and it probably wouldn’t have been a thing had the video not surfaced on social media.
This seems to confirm what a palace source told Newsweek about the state visit: “There was genuine warmth at all tiers of everyone involved in the state visit from the principals (the royals). You could see the general warmth in the relationship there, right the way down the whole operational cascade.”
In fact, The Independent even reported that Trump was considering whether to invite the royal family to the U.S. next year to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. That doesn’t sound like someone who felt snubbed in any way, shape or form.
This all comes after reports that after President Trump and first lady Melania Trump met with Prince William and Kate Middleton, he reportedly told Middleton, “You’re beautiful, so beautiful.” Middleton was sitting down next to the US President during the state banquet and was seen talking to him and smiling with him during the dinner, and though some people found the interactions creepy, Middleton gave no indication that she did.
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward told People that the Princess of Wales was “animated and happy and having a laugh” at the state banquet, after a very hard year coming back from cancer treatment. “She lightened the whole evening. She lit up the table with the megawatt smile. There was a lot of pressure on her because all eyes were on her,” Seward said.
And about her interactions with Trump, Seward said, “She obviously amused him,” adding that, “She is just a doyenne of perfect manners. He must have made her laugh.”
The state visit seems to have gone pretty well, enough that there are reportedly already plans for the two sides to make other joint appearances. No controversies, and President Donald Trump seems to have been particularly taken with the Princess of Wales. A win for diplomacy, in all respects, despite what social media might suggest.
