President Biden Didn’t Break Royal Protocol by Touching King Charles

The late Queen Elizabeth II described former President Donald Trump as “an enigma” after he famously walked in front of the monarch during a military inspection at Windsor Castle. Fortunately King Charles appears to have enjoyed a warmer reception with President Joe Biden who received a guard of honor at Windsor Castle on Monday. 

Despite reports that Biden broke royal protocol by walking ahead of the monarch and touching the king—Biden was seen holding Charles’s arm and patting his back—palace sources have revealed that the two men enjoyed a cordial meeting which cements the special relationship between the UK and the US.

While Charles was seen encouraging Biden to move along during their inspection of the Welsh Guards at Windsor Castle (the king is a fastidious time keeper), the two men were seen shaking hands and enjoying a jovial conversation and joked during the formalities, which included the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Biden’s fleeting 24-hour visit to London has been a success. While it was not a state visit, the red carpet was rolled out for Biden who took tea with the king at Windsor Castle. 

According to a palace source, the King was unbothered by the president walking ahead of him during the inspection of the guard of honor. “Contrary to some reports, that is, in fact, correct protocol,” said the palace aide who confirmed that Charles was entirely happy with Biden taking hold of his arm. “The king is entirely comfortable with that kind of contact, and what a wonderful symbol of warmth and affection it was between both the individuals and their nations,” said the source.

Charles and Biden last met at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021, where they held formal talks. On Monday, the men posed for photos inside the grand corridor of Windsor Castle before holding talks about climate change, an issue which the king is heavily invested in.

Ahead of his meeting with the king, Biden took tea with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the garden of 10 Downing Street. Despite being accused of being “anti-British” following his recent trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland and not attending the coronation, Biden was keen to point out that US-UK relations are “rock solid.”

Biden had also asked for the British flag to be flown on his car — known as “the beast”—during his fleeting visit to London. The president is now en route to Lithuania for the NATO summit.

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