Throughout her seventy years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II interacted with numerous foreign leaders. Although not every encounter was to her liking, she consistently ensured that her sentiments remained private. In contrast, she occasionally expressed veiled criticisms in private settings. An anecdote recalls an instance with President Vladimir Putin, who arrived fifteen minutes late to a meeting in 2003, prompting the Queen to comment on the interesting instincts of dogs after one in her entourage barked at him.
More specifically, Queen Elizabeth II was notably displeased with former President Donald Trump during his visits in 2018 and 2019. According to a new biography by Craig Brown titled “A Voyage Around the Queen,” the Queen referred to President Trump as “rude” in a private conversation following a luncheon shortly after his visit. She was particularly disturbed by his habit of looking over his shoulder, seemingly searching for individuals deemed more interesting.
The late monarch also scrutinized Trump’s marriage to Melania, who accompanied him during his 2019 UK visit. Brown recounts that Queen Elizabeth II mused on the nature of their relationship, questioning what kind of agreement might exist between them, given her perception of Melania’s continued presence alongside Trump.
The Queen’s discontent may have been exacerbated by an incident where President Trump overshadowed her by walking ahead of her during their 2018 meeting at Windsor Castle, a breach of royal protocol that became widely circulated online. Furthermore, during the state banquet in 2019, Trump controversially placed his hand on the Queen’s back, a gesture considered excessively informal for such a dignified occasion.
Regardless of the Queen’s private frustrations, President Trump remained oblivious to any signs of her disfavor. Upon his return to the United States, he claimed to have been the Queen’s favorite guest, stating, “Many people say they have never seen the Queen have a better time, a more animated moment,” as reported to Fox News.
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