US President Donald Trump touched down at Windsor ahead of tonight’s state banquet, held in his honour at the royal residence. The President and the First Lady, Melania, were personally greeted as they stepped off the Marine One helicopter by the Prince and Princess of Wales. During the warm welcome, the couples exchanged a few words among each others – with one sentence in particular seemingly uttered by the US President showing just how close he feels to the Royal Family.
According to lip reader Nicola Hickling the first six words the US President told the Prince of Wales were: “Hello my friend, how are ya?” Speaking on behalf of Covers, Ms Hickling also noted Mr Trump gave the heir to the throne a friendly slap on the arm as the handshake ended. This could be consider a breach in royal protocol, as guests are meant only to shake hands or bow to royals. But it is unlikely the Prince of Wales minded the friendly gesture. The expert also told the Express that the US President’s first words to Princess Kate were: “Hello, this is a relief.”
After exchanging a few words, the two couples then walked to Victoria House, a small property in the Royal Kitchen Gardens at Frogmore on the private Windsor estate. King Charles and Queen Camilla were waiting outside.
A carriage procession then got underway, with the King and the President sharing the Irish State Coach, followed by the Queen and First Lady behind in the Scottish State Coach. They are followed by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Honourable Warren Stephens, Ambassador of the United States of America and his wife, as well as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Susie Wiles, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff. Now, a body language expert/ lip reader has given their verdict on the moment the Trumps met the royals.
80 soldiers from the House Cavalry Mounted Regiment formed the Sovereign’s Escort travelling with the carriages, with the Life Guards dressed in their red tunics and white plumed helmets and Blues and Royals in their blue tunics and red plumes.
The processional route, which was not open to the public, was lined by 22 half-companies of personnel from throughout the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force.
After a day of pageantry around the Windsor Estate, Mr Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be hosted by the monarch along with a further 160 guests.