Donald Trump was welcomed with all the show and ceremony he could wish for as he spent the first part of his three-day state visit to Britain with the Royal Family yesterday.
Ultimately, though, Trump is here for “the pictures and the pageantry”, which he knows will “look good in his re-election campaign next year”, suggests the BBC’s James Landale.
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Indeed, the VIP visitor appeared to be checking his choreography as he mouthed words at wife Melania during the royal visit, according to body language experts.
“Mr Trump seems much more on his best behaviour this time than on his previous visit,” communications coach Robin Kermode told the Daily Mail.
“In many of the pictures from Windsor Castle, he seemed to want to appear strong and determined, and even in some pictures wanting to take control. This time he appears more like a schoolboy not wanting to put a foot wrong.”
All the same, the president’s initial handshake with the monarch raised eyebrows, after he appeared to “fist bump” the nonagenarian.
“The Queen only ever offers her fingertips so he couldn’t get a grasp. He probably wasn’t touching much more than her fingers,” said body language expert Judi James.
Following yesterday’s visit to Westminster Abbey, tea at Clarence House and state banquet at Buckingham Palace, and today’s talks with May, Trump will host a dinner this evening at Winfield House, the London residence of the US ambassador.
Tomorrow, he will join the Queen and the PM for commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Portsmouth.