A body language expert has revealed how Donald Trump and King Charles quickly got over pre-match nerves as they met amid tensions between the US and UK.
The President and First Lady welcomed the King and Queen to the White House with pomp and circumstance, ahead of a bilateral meeting between Charles and Trump on Tuesday.
The King stepped from his car to be met by Mr Trump and the first lady Melania Trump, who was wearing one of her trademark wide brimmed hats.
Derek Heron, a body language analyst and certified hypnotherapist, told Metro: ‘Both Trump and King Charles had a slightly nervous start to the meeting.
‘Charles touching has jacket several times.
‘This can be a self- reassurance gesture. Trump was doing a lot of nervous hand-clenching. This is a self-reassurance mechanism.
‘Charles appeared more relaxed when he laughed and smiled as he began greeting his own staff and then made way for Trump to meet his staff.
‘There was a little bit of uncertainty from both Trump and Charles with stiff postures and lots of reassuring self-touching.’
The Inspection
The King then inspected the military guard of honour before the speeches got underway.
A large number of military units took part in the ceremonial welcome from the United States Marine Corps Honour Guard to, for the first time at a White House event, the United States Space Force Honour Guard.
The rainy weather eased shortly before the royal party arrived, and presidential staff rushed out to wipe the chairs waiting for the King, Queen and the Trumps, ready for the open-air ceremony.
Mr Heron said: ‘Both Trump and King Charles walked with confidence at a good speed with steady strides and upright postures.
‘This was something they were comfortable with and helped settle the initial nervousness a little. Trump appeared more settled than the King.
‘King Charles was still doing a lot of jacket touching, reflecting that he hadn’t fully relaxed, although more settled than earlier.’
Trump began his speech with a barb about the weather: ‘What a beautiful British day this is.’
He lavished praise on Charles, saying it was a ‘tremendous privilege to host’ him, adding he was a ‘very elegant man’.
Trump also revealed his mother had a crush on ‘cute’ young Charles in an awkward exchange at the White House.
On Trump’s speech, he said: ‘It’s very obvious that Trump stood to address the audience a little too early and had to stand and wait until he was announced. Typically, Trump was unfazed.
‘King Charles tried to contain a wince as Trump slurred the word ‘Windsor’ at the start of his speech.
‘There were many times when King Charles genuinely listened and thought about Trump’s words
‘There were a few moments when King Charles felt a little confused by some of Trump’s remarks, as he sometimes struggled with the script but in general he hid it pretty well.
‘This was indicated by lots of head turns and postural adjustments.
‘King Charles was completely caught off guard with Trump’s remark about his mother thinking he was cute as a boy but he handled it well with a smile and a neutral gesture of acknowledgement. This is the king after all!
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
The Balcony Parade
(Picture: Bonnie Cash/UPI/Shutterstock)
Mr Heron said: ‘There’s lots of engagement between Trump and King Charles. King Charles is initiating the majority of the conversations.
‘They seemed much more relaxed at this point although both still displaying very rigid postures but given the formality of the occasion and being in full public view this is not unusual. Hand gestures from Trump during the chats indicate a more relaxed attitude.
‘King Charles was eager to get indoors after the parade moving towards the doors to get inside very quickly at the first hint that the parade was over. He may have felt cold and a little damp or just a little bored. It’s difficult to say.’
There will also be a private exchange of gifts between the Monarch and the US President ahead of a bilateral meeting between the pair.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.