It is believed Melania will break with common practice and likely leave off curtseying to Queen Elizabeth when she accompanies President Trump on their state visit to the United Kingdom. So might her husband.
The First Lady of the United States will be traveling to the United Kingdom next week with her husband, President Donald Trump, for a three-day state visit from June 3 to 5. On Monday morning, the first day of their three-day sojourn, the couple will be met in the ceremony by the Queen of England and her son, Prince Charles, as well as the prince's wife, Camilla.
The usual niceties of the ceremony traditionally involve bowing or curtseying to Queen Elizabeth. But there has been some speculation that the First Lady may not be observing tradition at the event above. The President of the United States may deviate from the same convention as well.
During their last visit to the Queen last year in July, the First Lady had given the Queen a handshake as a greeting, and so did President Trump. While there is no rule written on stone as to what type of behavior is expected when meeting any member of the royal family, it is usual for guests to stick to the norms being observed by most.
Women customarily make a slight curtsey while men bow at the neck, as explained in the official website of the royal family. Others go for the usual simple form of greeting by shaking hands. This being so, it is more than likely that the Trumps will be making the same kind of salutations to the Queen as they did the last time, with the accompanying handshakes.
Melania and President Trump are not the first American visitors, though, to have preferred this form of civility. In their time in the White House, the former U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle had also favored the handshake over the conventional bow or curtsey, back in 2011, when they had gone on their state visit.
It was noted though that the former First Lady had in the past received some controversial attention when she hugged Queen Elizabeth at a reception in the Buckingham Palace and kept her arm cradled around the royal while they talked. But then, it was said that the former had earlier curtseyed to the Queen during a stop she made at the royal's apartment beforehand. This was back in 2009 at the occasion for the G20 summit.
There have been other breaks from this tradition from time to time, and by other royals notwithstanding.
Back in 2017, when the Spanish royals had met with Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip during their state visit, Queen Letizia made her greetings by a handshake. But her husband, King Felipe, had caused a commotion when he planted a kiss on the British Queen's cheek and then proceeded to do the same on her hand.
