Donald Trump has been defended after appearing to walk ahead of King Charles during a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, September 17, as part of his second state visit to the United Kingdom.

The 79-year-old president arrived in the UK on Tuesday night with First Lady Melania Trump. The following day, the couple were formally welcomed to Windsor Castle by King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Princess Kate.

As part of the pageantry, a Guard of Honour was staged within the castle grounds following a carriage procession. Trump was invited to inspect the troops — the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, and Scots Guards — with King Charles accompanying him.

Footage from the event showed the monarch gesturing for the president to step ahead, prompting Trump to walk in front as he inspected the soldiers. The king followed closely behind.

Criticism and Defence

The moment drew criticism on social media, with some royal watchers suggesting Trump had once again broken protocol — recalling his 2018 visit, when he walked in front of Queen Elizabeth II.

“Shouldn’t Trump be walking with and talking to King Charles and not the guard?” one X user wrote. Another remarked, “Walking first, again,” while a third accused the president of “breaking protocol.”

However, palace sources were quick to clarify that no breach had occurred. As reported by the Daily Mail, it is standard practice during state visits for the visiting head of state to inspect the Guard of Honour first, with the monarch deliberately inviting them to lead. The same procedure was followed when President Joe Biden visited in 2023.

“Charles urged him to walk in front, it is standard for visiting presidents to inspect the troops,” one supporter commented online. Another added: “Chill people — the king invited him to walk ahead and made it plainly obvious.”

A Controversial Visit

While Trump’s walkabout with the king sparked debate, it was not the only moment drawing headlines. On Tuesday night, protestors projected images of Trump and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein onto a tower at Windsor Castle.

Police confirmed four arrests were made in connection with the stunt. Thames Valley Police said: “Yesterday (16/9), four men were arrested on suspicion of malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor. A 60-year-old man from East Sussex, a 36-year-old man from London, a 37-year-old man from Kent, and a 50-year-old man from London were all arrested on suspicion of malicious communications and remain in police custody.”

Trump and Epstein’s former friendship has recently resurfaced in the news, following claims of a birthday note allegedly written by Trump in the early 2000s — a document the White House has since disputed. The pair were known to have been acquaintances in the 1990s and early 2000s, before reportedly falling out years before Epstein’s death in 2019.

Despite the protests, Trump’s ceremonial welcome went ahead without disruption, with palace insiders insisting the president acted fully within royal protocol during his inspection of the Guard of Honour.