Princess Kate cleverly used her handbag to convey a subtle message as she welcomed Donald and Melania Trump at Windsor Castle today.
Prince William and Kate were responsible for initiating the Royal charm offensive to greet the Trumps, who arrived in Marine One, the designated call sign for the aircraft carrying the US president.
Kate greeted Mr Trump with a wide smile as they shook hands at Windsor Castle. The president reciprocated warmly with William, patting the future king affectionately on his right arm.
The Trumps and the Waleses walked side by side following their arrival, with William and Mr Trump engaged in conversation in the centre of the group, while the US president held his wife, Melania’s, hand before introducing them to the King and Queen.
Body language expert Bruce Durham from Huddle Culture noticed a subtle gesture made by Kate. 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.”, reports The Mirror.
“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 accompanied the president and his wife on the brief stroll to greet the King and Queen outside the gable-ended Victoria House.
This distinctive venue, previously unused for welcoming incoming state visits in contemporary times, represents just one of several special touches designed to wow the divisive billionaire-turned-politician, who regards the King as his “friend”.
Camilla managed to attend the opening engagement of this crucial diplomatic Royal obligation after withdrawing from the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on Tuesday owing to severe sinusitis.
The Queen donned a striking sapphire blue dress, complemented by a matching coat from Fiona Clare and a Philip Treacy hat, plus a sapphire and diamond brooch.
Grand ceremony was displayed in full splendour with the magnitude and magnificence of the military pageantry presented for Mr Trump being extraordinary.
Positioned along the carriage procession path through the private Windsor grounds to the castle stood 22 half-companies of service members from across the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force. The Trumps joined the King, Queen, and the Royal couple for a picturesque carriage ride through the lush parkland to the castle, escorted by a vibrant Sovereign’s Escort of the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
Later in the day, the royal-centric itinerary included a visit to Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb in St George’s Chapel, lunch with the Royal family, a special Beating Retreat ceremony featuring a flypast of UK and US F-35 fighter jets and the Red Arrows. To conclude the Royal festivities, a grand state banquet was held in the evening.
The Trumps were invited to stay overnight in the millennium-old castle as guests of the King and Queen.