King Charles III and Queen Camilla welcomed Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, to the United Kingdom earlier today for their second state visit. But less than 24 hours into his trip, the former U.S. president has already sparked debate about breaches of royal protocol.

The 79-year-old Republican leader and the First Lady, 55, landed at Stansted Airport yesterday (16 September) aboard Air Force One for their two-day tour of Britain. Today’s official programme began when the couple arrived at Windsor by helicopter, where they were greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales before meeting the King and Queen for a carriage ride around the estate.

Yet eagle-eyed viewers were quick to notice several moments that appeared to veer from established royal etiquette.

A Late Arrival

Trump’s timing was the first point of contention. He and Melania were scheduled to touch down at 11:55 a.m., but Marine One did not hover over Windsor’s walled garden until 12:10 p.m. By the time Trump stepped out, it was 12:16 p.m.

King Charles and Queen Camilla, who had arrived punctually at 12:02 p.m. in the state Bentley, were left waiting inside Victoria House. The King has long made his dislike of tardiness clear, famously grumbling at his own coronation in May 2023 when he was forced to wait inside the carriage: “We can never be on time. There’s always something… this is boring.”

The Handshake with Princess Kate