2023-07-11 09:43:45
US President Joe Biden lightly touches the back of British King Charles III./ AFP Yonhap News
Controversy arose when US President Joe Biden, who was on a tour of Europe, behaved inconsistently with royal protocol, such as placing his hand on the back of King Charles III of England. Regarding this, the royal family said, “It is not wrong.”
According to CNN, The Independent, etc., on the 10th (local time), President Biden visited Windsor Castle and met Charles III. This is the first official meeting since the coronation of Charles III.
At the time of the meeting, Charles III waited in advance for President Biden, who was driving to Windsor Castle, and shook hands following he arrived. Then, the two walked side by side to the podium to watch the guards band play the national anthems of both countries. At this time, President Biden lightly put his right hand on Charles III’s back.
Some criticize this as ‘an act that goes once morest the royal protocol’. According to ceremonial experts, there should be no personal physical contact unless the royal family steps forward. An expert from DeBrett Publishing, which was founded in 1976 and publishes the ‘Yearbook of the British Nobility’ to date, said in an interview with Archyde.com in the past, “The royal family can hug or wrap their arms first, but you wait and wait. We have to look at what kind of behavior is appropriate.”
In this regard, an anonymous British royal official commented on the physical contact between President Biden and Charles III as “a great symbol of friendship between the two people and the two countries.” He said, “His Majesty is comfortable with this kind of contact,” and “contrary to some reports, it was an act in line with protocol.”
On this day, it was pointed out that there was another action by President Biden that seemed to violate royal protocol. According to some British media, when taking a walk at Windsor Castle, President Biden walked ahead of King Charles III. In addition, he turned his head to talk to one of the guardsmen and paused for a moment, and because of this, Charles III, who held out his hand to lead the way, was captured as if waiting for a moment behind him. However, a royal source told The Independent that “there is nothing wrong with this action.”
This is not the first time that former US presidents have been embroiled in controversy over British royal etiquette. When President Biden met Queen Elizabeth II in June 2021, he was criticized for greeting and continuing the conversation while wearing his trademark sunglasses.
Former President Donald Trump acted like gently touching the back of the queen with her left arm as she stood up for a toast during a state dinner in the UK in 2019. Also in 2018, she was controversial for walking ahead of her queen.
President George HW Bush, who is 188 cm tall, did not adjust the height of the microphone when he came down from the podium when he received the Queen at the White House in 1991 and gave a speech, so the Queen’s face was covered by the microphone for the entire time. In response, President Bush apologized for not lowering the microphone in front of reporters.
It is said that there is no specific etiquette related to royal ceremonies. It is also mentioned on the British royal family website that “there is no compulsory code of conduct.” However, on the homepage, it is written that “the man bows, and the woman slightly bends her body to bow,” but the Independent said regarding this, “In 2009, Michelle Obama, as First Lady, wrapped her arms around the Queen at Buckingham Palace, causing controversy. The explanation that came out following this happened,” he said.
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