Donald Trump accused of 'disrespecting' King Charles and Queen Camilla by enraged royal fans

WATCH: King Charles's second day of US State Visit

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GB NEWS

Ben McCaffrey

By Ben McCaffrey, 


Published: 29/04/2026

- 15:17

The President appeared to jump in front of Queen Camilla ahead of the State Dinner

Donald Trump has left royal fans fuming after his "disrespectful" gesture towards Queen Camilla during the US State Visit.

King Charles and his wife spent their second day alongside President Trump and the First Lady on Tuesday. The monarch became the first since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 to address Congress, doing so with a monster 30-minute speech littered with quips, jibes, and important world affairs.


The President was left so impressed by the King's lengthy address, he told reporters: "He made a great speech... I was very jealous."

Later in the evening, prior to the State Dinner in which King Charles continued his unceremonious charm to a room full of star-studded guests, the royal couple received an unprecedented military welcome on the South Lawn of the White House.

It marks the highest diplomatic honour America extends to visiting heads of state, and is yet another indication of the President's admiration for the Royal Family.

Despite this, one gesture performed at the ceremony has led fans to brand Mr Trump as "disrespectful".

As Queen Camilla heads down the line of people, traditionally shaking the hands of those in attendance, the President seemingly jumps in front of her, forcing her to halt in her efforts entirely.

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla was seemingly going down the line and shaking hands

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Queen Camilla, Donald Trump

Before Donald Trump appears to nudge in front of her and begin to shake hands

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Meanwhile, as the President barges in, King Charles can be seen holding his hand out. However, Mr Trump swiftly shakes the hands of those lining up and whisks the royal couple away - without either of them having reached the end of the line.

The footage was released on social media and met with furious reaction.

One user called the gesture "ignorant and disrespectful" on social media.

King Charles, Donald Trump

Even King Charles appeared appeared to hold his hand out ready to shake, as the Queen waits behind

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Donald Trump, Queen Camilla, King Charles

The King and Queen then wait behind the President before being whisked away

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Another wrote: "Look at the Queen, she isn’t impressed."

A third fumed: "Not just breaking protocol but zipping in front of a woman. Not just rude, but cuts off the KING OF ENGLAND".

"Even if she wasn't a Queen and a guest, he should never do that to anyone!" a fourth added.

Later on, the event saw the royal couple stand next to the President and First Lady stand atop a dais as the UK and US national anthems were played by The President’s Own United States Marine Band, and a 21-gun salute was fired.

The celebrations preceded the luxurious State Dinner, where guests such as golfer Rory McIlroy, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and outgoing Apple chief executive Tim Cook.

Niceties between the President and the King have not been hard to come by during the trip - "it’s great to have a King in here, a man of class," the President said following a bilateral meeting with the sovereign in the Oval Office - and this continued long into the State Dinner.

The third day will see the King and Queen visit New York, where they will arrive at the 9/11 memorial. They are also expected to meet New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.