During Donald Trump’s second state visit to the UK, a moment at Windsor Castle sparked attention when he broke royal protocol, leaving King Charles visibly uneasy. The visit was shorter than his first, packed with ceremonial events like a military procession, a Red Arrows flyover, and a state banquet, before Trump’s planned meeting with Sir Keir Starmer at Chequers.

Trump, known for past protocol slip-ups, repeated some of his earlier mistakes, including walking in front of the monarch — a gesture considered disrespectful. According to body language expert Inbaal Honigman, King Charles was “clearly uneasy” as Trump misinterpreted his guiding gestures and strode ahead, leaving the King momentarily unsure how to respond.

Honigman explained that King Charles showed signs of nervousness, such as smoothing his tie and shifting his weight, while weighing whether to correct Trump or avoid embarrassing him. At one point, Charles attempted to stand between Trump and the Guard, but Trump unknowingly blocked him again, remaining “entirely oblivious” to the breach in etiquette.

Ultimately, King Charles resolved the situation gracefully by placing a friendly hand on Trump’s back and inviting him to continue walking, making it seem as though it had been the plan all along. Though this marked the second time Trump had made the same mistake, the King’s tactful handling prevented the incident from escalating.