The unexpected hiccups during King Charles's State Visit with Donald Trump – see photos


King Charles and Queen Camilla have completed a four-day State Visit to the US with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania


King Charles and U.S. President Donald Trump pose during a farewell ceremony at the White House © Getty Images
Eleanor Dye
Eleanor DyeOnline Royal Correspondent
18 hours ago
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The King and Queen have now concluded the US leg of their State Visit, with the monarch venturing to Bermuda for a solo trip. 

The highly anticipated visit has widely been considered a great success, with the monarch receiving an abundance of compliments from the President, delivering a powerful speech to Congress, and achieving the lifting of tariffs on Scottish whisky.

Charles, whom President Donald Trump described as "the greatest King", received a warm welcome with his wife in Washington D.C, New York, and Virginia, and seemed to achieve his bid to emphasise the special relationship between the UK and the US.  

However, it didn't all go smoothly, and there were a couple of hiccups that caused a series of tense moments for organisers. 

WATCH: Donald Trump attempts infamous handshake with King Charles

Here, HELLO! has rounded up all the gaffes and unexpected moments from the State Visit, with the best photos below.

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla join U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for a tour of the South Lawn© Getty Images

Trump cutting in front of Queen Camilla

Royal fans were left astonished at one early moment during the State Visit, when Trump cut in front of Queen Camilla as she was giving out royal handshakes. 

The King and Queen were greeting U.S. officials on the South Lawn upon returning to the White House after a private welcome from the President and First Lady on the second day of their visit on Tuesday. 

The President interjected and overtook the Queen to greet Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, causing Queen Camilla to give way. 

Typically, it is an unspoken rule not to overtake or walk in front of the King or Queen, and footage of the moment gained thousands of views on social media. 

However, the official advice on the family's website reads: "There are no obligatory codes of behavior when meeting the Queen or a member of the Royal Family."

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla pay their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier© WireImage

Diplomatic gaffe

King Charles and Queen Camilla visited the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on the final day of the US leg of the tour on Thursday. 

They laid a wreath and a posy at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and held a poignant moment of remembrance. 

However, all did not entirely go to plan as the Union Jack flag featured in their escort appeared to be flown upside down. 

Britain's Flag Institute explains that it is "most improper" to fly the flag upside down. To be correct, the website explains: "In the half of the flag nearest the flagpole, the wider diagonal white stripe must be above the red diagonal stripe, as Scotland's St. Andrew's Cross takes precedence over Ireland's St. Patrick's Cross."

Writing on social media, one person said: "Rather a diplomatic gaffe by the Americans here. The Union Flag is upside down at the Arlington Cemetery event."

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President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn© AFP via Getty Images

Trump's awkward touch

Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, joined the King and Queen for the official arrival ceremony on the South Lawn at the White House on Tuesday. 

The group of four posed for photographs on the steps, and Trump reached over to his wife in a moment of affection. 

However, his hand was slightly lower than would typically be expected on a royal visit, and he seemed to touch her bottom. 

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US and UK flags fly near a flag celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary of independence ahead of the state visit© AFP via Getty Images

Decorating with the wrong flags!

There was a second, narrowly avoided flag gaffe ahead of King Charles and Queen Camilla's arrival in Washington DC. 

Filming next to the Washington Monument, ABC News reporter James Longman noted that Australian flags had been put up in error, instead of Britain's Union Jack. 

He explained: "I think they thought, because it had a Union Jack in the corner, that was Britain's flag. Technically, Charles is King of Australia, but I think they realised their mistake!"

Luckily, the error was spotted, and the Australian flags were taken down in time for the King's arrival. The correct flags are pictured above. 

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President Donald Trump talks with King Charles III during a state arrival ceremony on the South Lawn© Getty Images

Trump's 'two Kings' post

On Wednesday, the White House divided opinion after sharing a post of Trump and King Charles that described them as "two Kings", adding a crown emoji. 

The picture showed the two men laughing on the White House lawn. The President previously shared an AI video of himself complete with a crown, royal cape and a sword. The post split opinion both in the UK and the US. 

Joe Morelle, ​a New York Democrat, ​told the Reuters news agency afterwards: "One interesting difference between America and the UK is that the people are the sovereign. We don’t have one person that’s sovereign."

"I don’t think ⁠the president, respectfully, understands that difference," he added.

It comes after a series of "no Kings" protests have taken place across the US, opposing the policies of the second Trump administration.   

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla pay their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery © WireImage

Queen Camilla's bee attack

Queen Camilla was forced to break official protocol during an official tribute in Virginia on Thursday, as she appeared to be attacked by a bee. 

The royal, 78, suddenly fended off a flying insect at the Arlington National Cemetery as a military band played four muffled ruffles and taps before a moment of silent remembrance.

The solemn moment was briefly interrupted when a bee appeared to fly into the vision of the King's wife during the official salute. Camilla was forced to break her composure to swat it away, only for it to fly towards Charles. 

She tried to protect her husband from the insect by wafting it with her hands, forcing her to take a step backwards and break formation.

WATCH: Queen Camilla swats a bee away
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