What's the royal protocol for King Charles' state visit with Trump?

What could possibly go wrong? Early next week, all eyes will be on King Charles and President Donald Trump when the monarch begins his U.S. visit in Washington, D.C., on April 27. It will be the king's first U.S. trip since his 2022 coronation, and the first state visit by a British sovereign since Queen Elizabeth in 2007.

The visit will mark the 250th anniversary of America's independence, but may smooth tensions between the U.S. and the UK, particularly after the UK opted not to take part in the war in Iran. Charles' brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the disgraced prince, was connected to the late Jeffrey Epstein, and questions still linger about the depth of the connection between the convicted sex offender and President Trump, though he and First Lady Melania Trump have denied any wrongdoing.

With a highly unpredictable POTUS on top of all of that, the royal visit promises to be an eventful few days — and with a state banquet, garden party and other official events planned, complex matters of centuries-old etiquette and protocol will come into play.

USA TODAY spoke with experts and a former member of the king's staff about how both sides are likely preparing for next week's landmark meeting.

How should President Trump address the king and queen?

This rule is "clear-cut," says royal commentator Amanda Matta: Regardless of who you are, "you’re meant to say 'Your Majesty' the first time you meet the monarch." It's "Your Royal Highness" at the first meeting with other royals, such as Queen Camilla. After the first meeting, "sir" or "ma'am" are just fine. "With Trump, though, no one will expect it to be perfect. He might keep saying 'Your Majesty' repeatedly, even though that’s not technically protocol."

Who should walk into a room first, the king or the president?

"It will be the U.S. that sets the precedent for these moments," explains a former member of the King's household, who spoke on the condition of anonymity since Palace staffers are not authorized to speak publicly.

And don't be surprised if no one is clearly up front. "Arrivals and entrances are typically side by side or with the president leading as host, while still showing deference to the king’s status," adds Myka Meier, founder of Beaumont Etiquette and American-born star of Bravo's Ladies of London.Some thought that Trump flouted this rule during his past visits to the UK, walking ahead of both Charles and his late mother, but royal watcher Kristen Meinzer points out, "in those moments, the monarch had gestured him forward."

That includes a moment with the Queen, which many misconstrued as a gaffe. "In fact, the late Queen invited him to inspect the guard in the usual way during which time she was alongside him and occasionally behind acting as host," says the former royal staffer.

What about bowing and curtseying to the king and queen?

Contrary to popular belief, bowing and curtseying to Charles and Camilla "aren't actually written in stone," Matta says, especially not for Americans and while in the U.S. "It’s not obligatory because they’re not subjects of the king. It would be respectful, absolutely, but even on UK soil the royals aren’t insistent on it."

The former staffer agrees: "These are not requirements that Their Majesties insist upon and they will very often greet someone with a handshake."

What are the rules, really, when it comes to the royals and physical touches like hugs, airkisses and handshakes?

"The king and queen are actually quite relaxed about the formalities around greetings," says the former member of the king's household, though airkisses "remain somewhat less common."

Adds Matta, "The whole point of these visits is to show warmth and friendliness, so protocol does loosen when the relationship between two countries is the priority." Since a goal of this visit is to smooth U.S.-UK relations, less regimented moments are to be expected.

“The usual rule is: wait for Charles to extend his hand. But Trump will grab him, clap him on the back, and call him ‘buddy’ within thirty seconds," predicts Dan Wakeford, who has reported on the royals.

How are state dinners planned for the British royals?

Unlike at a royal dinner with traditionally long rectangular tables, White House state dinners have been held at round tables ever since the era of Jackie Kennedy. She "believed round tables were more sociable," says Meinzer. "People can actually talk to one another." This means that, logistically, there's less room for "elaborate cutlery spreads" that you might imagine at a royal banquet. 

Menus are generally pre-approved and tailored to dietary preferences, served and cleared in unison, Meier explains. In keeping with the agricultural and environmental causes that he's passionate about, Charles favors anything seasonal, sustainable and organic, and eschews foie gras for "ethical concerns," says Matta. Most royals famously avoid garlic and heavy sauces for practical reasons, too.

"Charles typically doesn’t eat many carbs with dinner," Matta adds. "That was something he inherited from Queen Elizabeth."

The king's drinks, Meier says, "are traditionally pre-sealed and prepared by his team in England." His drink of choice: a gin and tonic with lime. "I once served him this exact drink and watched the process: two ice cubes in a low-ball glass and pre-sealed and prepared, and served on a silver platter. Even the lime was pre-sliced and sealed." 

Earlier in his daily schedule the king keeps it light, food-wise. "Typically, the king does not eat lunch," the ex-staffer says, "preferring to have a light breakfast followed by tea later in the day."  

What is the expected attire?

When the Trumps visited the royals in September 2025, the dinner attire was white tie, with men in black tailcoats with white waistcoats and bowties and senior royal women in tiaras. That's very traditional for the Brits, but this U.S. dinner is expected to be the slightly less formal black tie, meaning tuxedos for the men.

It could be an excuse for Queen Camilla to bring out the jewels, says Matta. "State visits are one of the few occasions where tiaras are still very much appropriate. If she brings out a major tiara — especially one associated with Queen Elizabeth — that would be a clear flex."A garden party at the British ambassador's residence in D.C. will break with British protocol: Guests are discouraged from wearing hats. The dress code for a royal garden party historically includes lounge or business suits for men and day dresses for women, usually paired with hats or fascinators. Men are also sometimes seen wearing top hats with their dress. The "Hats Not Encouraged" guidance for the event on April 27 would rule out the president's favorite MAGA hat of course.

Must diners wait for the king to stand up before the meal is over?

It's the famous ending: When the monarch rises – be it very early or very late in the evening – the meal is done. While this tradition is alive and well for the royals at home, "the host nation leads the structure of the event and this is not a rule per se in the U.S.," Meier says.

"When he is a guest overseas, the king will be happy to follow the invitation of his host," says the former staffer.

Can they exchange gifts?

It is common for a visiting dignitary, royal or not, to offer a token of gratitude during a visit. "These are usually interesting and have a personal touch where the king and queen know the people they are visiting which, in this case, they do," says the king's former staffer.Elizabeth Holmes, royal and style commentator and author of popular Substack So Many Thoughts,was recently invited by Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro to cover a state visit to Philadelphia by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and observed this gift-giving ritual firsthand. "King Willem-Alexander gave a copy of a historic Dutch document akin to a declaration of independence, and Pennsylvania officials gave a copy of the state charter. It was very symbolic and very public."The president is expected to return the gesture. "Obama gave Queen Elizabeth a beautifully bound book documenting her parents’ visit to the U.S.," Meinzer recalls. "Trump, on the other hand, previously gave Charles an imitation Eisenhower sword. A strange choice." She predicts that the king could gift Trump with "perhaps a book of botanical sketches or something environmental. Thoughtful, yes. Whether Trump would appreciate it is another story."

How are the king and queen briefed for a trip like this?

"There’s absolutely extensive preparation. A lot of it is built directly into the schedule," says Holmes. "The run of show is designed to limit spontaneity so the king isn’t put in risky situations. The UK team has worked hard to safeguard the king from moments that could go awry."

What if something does go awry, or there's a faux pas?

"If there are off-the-cuff moments, I’d expect them to come from Trump, not from the king," Holmes says. After all, the sovereign "has decades of experience with difficult personalities. Like his mother, his expression will stay steady. He’s trained to minimize visible reaction."Charles and Camilla are old pros at this, adds the former royal staffer: "He has been undertaking state visits at home and abroad for more than six decades so there is very little that would knock him off his stride."“Charles has had a brutal few years," adds Wakeford. "He has worked incredibly hard despite his health and is super determined. He will handle this trip with precision. Nothing will be left to chance. It’s the most important week of his reign so far."

What does Trump truly think of the royals?

"He appears genuinely enamored with royalty and royal customs," Holmes notes. "I would imagine his entire orbit is very focused on wanting to do this 'the right way,' whatever that means to them. Royalty and its trappings clearly appeal to Trump.""I expect everyone involved to be on their best behavior. Whether they actually know the correct etiquette is a separate issue. But the intent will be to receive the king and queen graciously."She adds of the president's recent war-of-words with another leader: "He's willing to fight with the Pope, but I don't think he'll be willing to fight with the king."