If the 2025 US State visit to the UK taught us anything, it's that President Donald Trump is a big fan of King Charles. The two-day visit last autumn afforded royal fans plenty of opportunities to see how the monarch handled the US leader - including one moment that went viral at the time.
Following the President's arrival, the US President was invited to inspect the guards during a ceremonial welcome at Windsor.
© Getty ImagesAfter doing so, a Beefeater went to place his sword on the President's shoulders, but not before the King said: "Watch the sword." See the moment in the video above.
Royal protocol
As Trump inspected the troops, he walked ahead of the King. While this may have appeared to break protocol, it is actually tradition for visiting world leaders to walk ahead of the Monarch during this ceremony.
The same occurred in 2019, during Donald's state visit, when Queen Elizabeth II was the reigning monarch. Trump was seen walking in front of her once again while inspecting the troops. Despite the outcry from royal fans, infuriated by the move, Buckingham Palace shortly confirmed that the President did not break royal protocol.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesHistoric US state visit
The King’s triumphant state visit to the US has drawn to a close, offering a masterclass in global statesmanship. HELLO! watched from the sidelines as the monarch and Queen Camilla won over the American public with a textbook display of soft power, effortlessly charming President Donald Trump and reinforcing the foundational "special relationship" between the two nations.
It was a perfect example of royal diplomacy, silencing critics who question the monarchy's relevance on the international stage. The trip wrapped up in Washington with a formal send-off from President Trump and the First Lady outside the White House, capping off an action-packed itinerary.
© Getty ImagesBefore parting ways, the President was overheard praising the monarch: "He’s a great King. The greatest King, in my book."
The true measure of the visit's success came shortly after, when Trump unexpectedly axed tariffs on whisky imports as a thank you to the royal couple, noting that the trip had "got me to do something that nobody else was able to do".
