The Prince and Princess of Wales were on hand to meet Donald and Melania Trump as they arrived in Windsor today – and one expert noticed a subtle move by Kate during the greeting
The Princess of Wales used her handbag to deploy a subtle trick as she greeted Donald and Melania Trump at Windsor Castle today.
Prince William and Kate were tasked at the start of the royal charm offensive to greet the Trumps, who arrived in Marine One, the call sign of the United States Marine Corps aircraft carrying the president.
The princess gave Mr Trump a broad smile as they shook hands at Windsor Castle. The president shook hands warmly with William and patted the heir to the throne affectionately on his right arm. The Trumps and the Waleses walked side by side following their arrival – with William and Mr Trump chatting in the middle of the group, while the US president held his wife Melania’s hand before introducing them to the King and Queen.
READ MORE: Kate Middleton beams as she charms Donald and Melania Trump with dazzling smileREAD MORE: ‘I watched Prince Andrew try to bond with William – his awkward reaction says it all’
And for body language expert Bruce Durham from Huddle Culture, Kate made a subtle gesture. He explained to the Mirror : “When they walk away from the helicopter, you see Kate notices the closeness between Donald and Melania, but then what occurs is that her brain notices this and you’ll see there is a shift of her handbag in her hands.
“And what this is, is that she notices that and she feels uncomfortable enough and her brain says move closer to William but because of that regimented royal protocol that’s been ingrained within her, all you get is a shift of the handbag, which indicates she wants to do it, but she regiments herself and recognises that spatial awareness.
“They do look jovial, but it is good when you get these different types of behavioral accpetances, where you’ve got the American president and his partner and Prince William on the other side and the different expectations of how people should behave.”
The prince and princess escorted the president and his wife the short walking distance to meet the King and Queen in front of the gable-ended Victoria House.
The unique setting, never used before at an incoming state visit in modern times, is just one of a number of flourishes being added to impress the controversial billionaire-turned politician, who sees the King as his “friend”.
Camilla rallied to attend the first engagement of the key diplomatic royal duty after pulling out of the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on Tuesday due to acute sinusitis.
The Queen wore a vibrant sapphire blue dress, a matching coat by Fiona Clare and hat by Philip Treacy and a sapphire and diamond brooch.
Pomp and pageantry was out in full force with the scale and spectacle of the military ceremonial on show for Mr Trump unprecedented.
Lining the carriage procession route through the private Windsor estate to the castle were 22 half-companies of personnel from throughout the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force.
The Trumps joined the King and Queen and the prince and princess for the scenic carriage ride through the green parkland to the castle, accompanied by a colourful Sovereign’s Escort of the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
Later, other elements of the royal-focused first day include a visit to the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II in St George’s Chapel, lunch with the royal family, a special Beating Retreat ceremony with a flypast of UK and US F-35 fighter jets and the Red Arrows, and in the evening – to top off the royal celebrations – a lavish state banquet. The Trumps will stay overnight in the 1,000-year-old castle as guests of the King and Queen.
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply