Donald Trump has broken protocol during a meeting with the Queen by appearing to pat her on the shoulder when Her Majesty stood up with a glass of Windsor Great Park sparkling English wine to toast the US President.
According to UK royal protocol, touching the Queen, especially in such a formal setting, is considered extremely gauche behaviour.
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Notably, Her Majesty did not react to Trump’s gesture and continued to play hostess as if nothing has taken place. However, this was not the case with many netizens, who quickly posted sarcastic tweets to quip at what they described as Trump’s “inappropriate” and “mannerless” behaviour.
Commenting on the incident, one user claimed that “Donald Trump makes his own rules”, while another sarcastically noted that the US President “only meant well”.
It is worth noting that the lapse of protocol took place after Trump delivered a speech heaping praise on the Queen, who “has stood as a constant symbol of these priceless traditions from the Second World War to today”.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived at London's Stansted Airport on Monday morning, in what became his first three-day state visit to the UK. On the first day, Trump’s schedule included meeting the Queen, visiting Westminster Abbey and attending a dinner hosted in Buckingham Palace.