Trump UK visit: What royal protocol is the US leader expected to follow?

Now that Donald Trump has arrived in the UK, many will undoubtedly be wondering how the US president will fare while spending time with Her Majesty the Queen.

The Queen has made the acquaintance of almost every acting US president since 1945, starting with Harry Truman whom she met while visiting Washington, DC as a princess in 1951.

There are number of rules that Trump is expected to follow when greeting the reigning British monarch, some of which are more regimented than others.

Earlier today, the president and US first lady Melania Trump arrived at Buckingham Palace for a private lunch and welcome ceremony.

While Trump was likely instructed on how to address the Queen in the appropriate manner, the royal family are apparently more relaxed nowadays with regards to royal protocol than they used to be.

"It isn't as much a case of meeting the Queen, but rather being presented to her (typically by one of her courtiers)," Rupert Wesson, Debrett's academy director, explains to The Independent.

"In this instance, they will likely say: 'Your Majesty, may I present Mr Donald Trump'.

"It is customary for men to bow, however this is a very subtle gesture and not exaggerated - the Queen is said to be quite relaxed about this."

The royal family has outlined the proper way in which to address the Queen, tips that Trump will have to take heed of prior to his visit.

When greeting the monarch for the first time, the president will be expected to call her “Your Majesty”, before then referring to her as “Ma’am”, pronounced in the same manner as “jam”.

While usually men may greet the Queen by bowing to the monarch from the neck and women may do so by giving the royal a small curtsy, on the occasion of the US president's state visit, both he and the first lady shook hands with the Queen.

"The rules are not official or written down but rather an understanding," explains etiquette expert Grant Harrold, former royal butler to Prince Charles.

"President Trump should not offer his hand to the Queen for a handshake but he will have to wait for the Queen to offer the handshake.

"Only then may he accept and he must remember the grip should not be too tight or too loose, and it is two to three pumps then hands go back to your side."

This evening, Trump will attend a royal state banquet in the Buckingham Palace Ballroom.

The formal occasion will be attended by around 150 guests, who have been invited "on the basis of their cultural, diplomatic or economic links to the country being hosted".

The festivities will begin with a speech and toast delivered by the Queen.

The US president will then respond with a toast in honour of the British monarch.

According to Debrett’s, when dining at a formal meal, guests should refrain from hunching in their chairs, starting the meal before anyone else and talking with their mouths full.

Furthermore, if any speeches are being given during the evening, talking during the oration is considered rude.

In 2017, Canada’s governor general David Johnston appeared to breach royal protocol by making physical contact with the Queen while helping her down a flight of stairs at Canada House in London.

However, while many may have assumed any physical contact with the Queen is strictly off limits in keeping with royal protocol, Michelle Obama’s famous hugwith the monarch proves that this isn’t necessarily the case.

For all the latest on Trump's UK state visit, visit The Independent's live blog here.