In September 2025, reports spread in the media and social networks that the US President grossly violated the rules of etiquette and even publicly humiliated the British king when he walked for several minutes not next to the monarch, but in front of him. We have checked the correctness of such publications.

On September 17, media and Telegram channels reported that Donald Trump violated diplomatic protocol during his state visit to the UK: when the US President inspected the formation of the guards, he walked noticeably ahead of King Charles III. This behavior is supposedly considered offensive, since guests of the British monarch are required to walk next to him.

Russians spoke about this incident (“Snob", Lenta.ru), Ukrainian (Oboz.ua, "Channel 24") and other media, as well as Telegram channels "Live broadcast • news"(792,000 views at the time of writing this analysis), "Ax Live"(736,000), Insider UA (427,000), "Dmitry Nicotin"(312,000), "Evil proof"(189,000), "Solovyov"(186,000), etc.

On September 17, during a state visit to the UK, Trump visited Windsor Castle, where he met with King Charles III. Soon after the arrival of the American president, the British monarch invited him to inspect the ceremonial formation of the royal guards. Trump’s behavior at this very moment caused criticism from the media and Internet users - they argued that the situation when the king follows a guest and looks at his back is unacceptable.

Viral video. Source: Telegram

Contrary to popular belief, there is no codified list of prohibitions when interacting with members of the British royal family. “There are no mandatory rules of conduct when meeting the monarch or a member of the royal family, but many people wish to respect traditional forms,” it says on her official website. In other words, it is enough to follow generally accepted norms of etiquette or, if the interlocutor wants to demonstrate special respect, previously established traditions. As examples, the royal family website provides special signs of greeting: a small curtsey for women and a bow for men (it is enough to bow only the head, but not the body). The prohibition of walking in front of the monarch is not mentioned on this resource.

At the same time, in section about how a state visit differs from other formats of meeting with foreign delegations, it is said that it begins with welcoming guests at a solemn ceremony with the participation of the royal guards. Next, the foreign leader is invited to inspect the formation of honor, since in this case it is the guest who is entrusted with the formal procedure, he goes first, and the monarch accompanies him.

Broadcast from a recent meeting at Windsor Castle visiblethat first Trump and Charles III approach the guard, after which the king gestures for the American president to come forward. While Trump walks along the line, Charles III stays slightly behind, but upon completion of the inspection fits to the guest. Next, the heads of the two states move side by side.

Further confirmation that Trump acted in accordance with protocol, published on the same day fast British Ministry of Defense in X. The department writes that a guard of honor was lined up in front of Trump for inspection as part of his state visit. The post is accompanied by a photo in which the American president walks ahead of the British king. It is unlikely that the department would have released such a photo if Trump's behavior was considered disrespectful to the monarch.

Next to Trump in this photo is Lt. Col. Storm Green. In a conversation with AFP, he confirmedthat the American president in this situation behaved in accordance with protocol. Richard Fitzwilliams, an expert on the British royal family, gave the same assessment.

Other leaders who visited the UK on a state visit behaved exactly the same way as Trump when watching the guards. By September 2025, Charles III had received six guests in this format: the President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa in 2022, US President Joe Biden and the President of South Korea Yoon Seok Lyla in 2023, Japanese Emperor Naruhito and the Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in 2024, as well as the President of France Emmanuel Macron in 2025. On all these occasions, the distinguished guests walked along the guard of honor, and on all these occasions they walked in front of the monarch. Photos and videos taken during visits hosted by Queen Elizabeth II show the same.

Screenshots from reports on state visits of foreign leaders to the UK (1,2,3,4,5,6). Source: collage “Verified”

It is noteworthy that at least some of these world leaders, e.g. Macron, the same criticism was leveled at Trump in September 2025. And the American politician himself had previously incriminated for an alleged breach of protocol in the same situation in 2018 when he was visiting the UK on a state visit during his first term as president. At the same time, on video from that event, it is clearly visible how Elizabeth II shows Trump that he should walk ahead of her.

Reports that the US President flagrantly violated protocol during a guard of honor review at Windsor Castle initially circulated in the English-language segment X, some publications received hundreds of thousands of views. Further, some American and British tabloids accused Trump of the alleged violation, for example Cosmopolitan And The Daily Star. Already with reference to them, the information was disseminated in other languages, including Russian.

Thus, there is no reason to believe that Trump violated protocol when he walked in front of Charles III during the review of the guard of honor during his state visit to the UK. On the contrary, he adhered to the rules of the ceremony in which he participated. Other world leaders who have attended similar events in recent years have behaved similarly.

Cover photo: Wikimedia Commons