When Donald and Melania Trump visited the UK this week for their second state trip, some people watching noticed what they thought were breaches of royal protocol. In particular, viewers pointed out that Melania didn’t curtsy when greeting members of the royal family, leading to speculation that she had been disrespectful.
During their arrival at Windsor on September 17, the Trumps were welcomed by Prince William and Kate Middleton. William then introduced Donald Trump to his father, King Charles III. As cameras rolled, Melania shook hands with Charles and Queen Camilla but did not perform the traditional curtsy. She also didn’t curtsy when speaking with William or Kate.
Social media quickly lit up with comments accusing her of ignoring royal traditions. However, according to the royal family’s official website, she did nothing wrong. The site makes clear that there are *no required rules of behavior* when meeting a royal. People can choose to bow or curtsy, but many simply shake hands instead.
The website notes that men who want to follow tradition may bow their head slightly, and women may offer a small curtsy. For formal greetings, “Your Majesty” is used for the King, while other royals are first addressed as “Your Royal Highness” before switching to “Sir” or “Ma’am.” But these customs are optional, not mandatory. That means Melania’s choice to stick with a handshake was perfectly acceptable.
Questions were also raised about Donald Trump’s behavior during a military inspection with King Charles. Some viewers claimed Trump was disrespectful because he appeared to walk ahead of the King. But royal expert and former butler Grant Harrold explained that this, too, wasn’t a violation. He pointed out that visiting heads of state often walk in front during such ceremonies because they are the ones being officially honored. He noted that even President Bill Clinton once walked in front of Prince Philip during a similar event.
In short, despite the online buzz, neither Donald nor Melania Trump actually broke royal protocol. The customs surrounding royal greetings are more about tradition and courtesy than strict rules.
