MAYBE IT WAS NERVES FROM BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF ROYALTY, OR PERHAPS IT WAS A SIMPLE MISTAKE, BUT OVER THE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A FEW GAFFES BETWEEN US PRESIDENTS, FIRST LADIES AND MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY.

AS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP PREPARES TO VISIT KING CHARLES II IN ENGLAND, WE’RE LOOKING BACK AT SOME BETTER KNOWN MISHAPS.

 

IN 1977, THEN-PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER WAS ATTENDING A DINNER AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, AND IT WAS RUMORED THAT CARTER HAD KISSED THE QUEEN MOTHER ON THE LIPS.

 

PRESIDENT CARTER LATER CLAIMED THE EPISODE DID NOT HAPPEN, YET BRITISH TABLOIDS RAN WITH THE STORY FOR YEARS.

 

IN 2007, FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH HOSTED QUEEN ELIZABETH II AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

 

UPON HER ARRIVAL, BUSH GAVE A WELCOMING SPEECH WHERE HE FLUBBED A LINE PORTRAYING THE QUEEN AS MUCH OLDER THAN SHE WAS.

 

SOUNDBITE (English) George W. Bush, U.S. President:

“"You helped our nation celebrate its bicentennial in 17 ... in 1976. (Audience laughs.) She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child."

 

WHEN THE OBAMAS VISITED THE ROYAL FAMILY IN 2009, FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA PLACED HER HAND ON THE BACK OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II, BREAKING PROTOCOL THAT THE QUEEN IS NOT TO BE TOUCHED UNLESS SHE MAKES THE FIRST MOVE.

 

PRESIDENT TRUMP, ON HIS VISIT IN 2018, ALSO BROKE PROTOCOL BY WALKING IN FRONT OF THE QUEEN.

 

THIS IS A BIG BREACH IN ETIQUETTE IN ROYAL TRADITION, AS THE MONARCH IS MEANT TO ALWAYS LEAD THE WAY, DUE TO BRITISH HIERARCHY.