Latest news with #royalprotocol
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Macron makes another faux pas: French president pats the back of the King's Guard while inspecting the troops with Charles
Emmanuel Macron came under fire yesterday for walking in front of King Charles during a ceremonial inspection at Windsor Castle. Now the French President, who is on a three-day state visit to the UK with his wife Brigitte, appears to have broken yet another royal protocol while he was inspecting the troops in the Upper Ward of Windsor on Wednesday. While Macron walking alongside the Grenadier Guard, and ahead of the King, the president patted the guards captain on the back. People are not supposed to touch the guards, especially while they are on ceremonial duty, if a guard is touched they are thought to shout 'hands off the King's guard!' In a clip, the guards captain can be seen quickly wiping his head around to see who had touched him. Lucky, he decided to bite his tongue on this occasion and continued the walk through with the French president. The moment caused a brief pause in the otherwise smooth procession, as the unexpected gesture took the guard by surprise. Royal fans claimed that while the president's move was likely intended as friendly, it subtly underscored the cultural differences in formal ceremony. It comes after royal fans noticed another protocol breach after Macron walked in front of King Charles during the ceremonial inspection- prompting comparisons to US President Donald Trump. In a GB News livestream of the event, Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker noted the potential breach and drew a pointed comparison. He said: 'On your screens now you'll see the King is walking behind the President of France. 'If you remember a few years ago where Queen Elizabeth II invited President Trump of the United States, during his first term of office, to inspect a guard of honour, President Trump was heavily criticised for walking in front of Her Majesty the Queen. 'And as you can see on your screens here, President Macron is walking in front of His Majesty the King. 'Now, I understand that there shouldn't really have been perhaps so much of a hoo-haa with what President Trump did, as this is perhaps custom - that the King, as the host, gives way to the foreign head of state which is the honoured guest at Windsor Castle.' Despite Walker's attempt to clarify the tradition, many viewers were unimpressed by the optics of the French President striding ahead of Britain's sovereign. Social media erupted with criticism, with some users suggesting Macron's behaviour was a deliberate snub. One furious commenter wrote: 'He's doing it on purpose. He's French, he doesn't believe in monarchy and he's an absolute narcissist trying to feel like Napoleon for 5 minutes.' Others echoed the suspicion, with one saying: 'I bet Macron is doing it on purpose. I bet he won't get as much criticism as Trump did.' Another added: 'At least Trump corrected his error by waiting for the Queen to catch up, Macron thinks he is the supreme ruler there.' In the video clip, Macron is seen conversing with members of the King's Guard as King Charles walks a few paces behind - a detail not missed by eagle-eyed royal fans. One remarked: 'And conversing with the King's Guard, as though the King was not even there! Unbelievable.' Some royal watchers placed the onus on the monarch himself, suggesting King Charles had failed to assert his position during the formal proceedings. One commenter argued: 'I don't like it but The King has not asserted himself or held any position. 'By speaking at the WEF, he is basically a pawn in the game and positions himself on par with people like Macron… the King should not be aligning himself with such degeneracy.' Avid royal fans took to social media with a flurry of opinions, with speculations emerging of tension between the King and Macron While criticism of Macron dominated much of the online chatter, a few more diplomatic voices suggested that the order of walking may have simply followed longstanding custom in which the host monarch steps back to allow the guest head of state to lead during troop inspections. One person said: 'I think he is leading the way as he is the host.' Another agreed: 'He knows royal protocol.' But the spectacle struck a nerve with many royalists, who viewed it as an example of a foreign leader failing to respect British traditions. Though there is no evidence of any personal tension between the King and the French President, the moment added fuel to the reactions, with critics keen to draw links between Macron's perceived arrogance and what they view as a lack of deference to the Crown. Whether Macron's move was a diplomatic faux pas or a customary gesture remains up for debate but, for many, the optics alone were enough to spark outrage.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Queen's Mick Jagger knighthood snub: EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE
Emmanuel Macron 's touchy-feely approach breached royal protocol at the start of his state visit. Inspecting the guard of honour with the King at Windsor, he chummily patted the Grenadier Guards captain on the back. That you should never do. Guards on ceremonial duty are taught that should any tourist touch them, they should instantly shout 'Hands off the King's guard!' Fortuitously, the captain turned to see who was interfering with his person and bit his tongue. Apparently, the King couldn't resist a chuckle. Having done away with the role of Mistress of the Robes, Queen Camilla fetched up at the Macron state banquet improperly dressed. She arrived wearing only the Royal Family Order of the King and not that of the late Queen. All the other royal ladies present wore both – and wore them (correctly) on the left shoulder, whereas Camilla wore hers on her right. At least she made an effort. Keir Starmer forgot to pack the badge and star of a Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, awarded to him in 2014, which would have set off his white tie and tails nicely. The late Queen might have had a royal harrumph if she'd seen the name of Mick Jagger on the banquet guest list. HM was so irked by tax exile Jagger's repeated postponing of his 2003 knighthood that she declined to gong him. The job instead went to Prince Charles. A courtier later recalled: 'The Queen looked at Mick Jagger's name on that list and there was absolutely no way in the world that she was going to take part in that.' When Norman Tebbit's thuggish Spitting Image puppet liquidised TV inquisitor Robin Day's hand in a blender and began to drink the contents, the Independent Broadcasting Authority told producer John Lloyd: 'You can't broadcast this.' Lloyd explained: 'But it's Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal.' As soon as the IBA heard Swift's name, it went: 'Oh, it's proper satire then, we'll let it through.' Did ITV political editor Robert Peston let his hair down at Wimbledon? Er, no. On ITV's Talking Politics podcast he boasts about drinking non-alcoholic English sparkling rose at the tennis. What a blameless life he leads! Ozzy Osbourne, in a new documentary, expresses no remorse for biting the head off a bat thrown at him during a Black Sabbath concert. 'I thought it was rubber and crunched down and realised it was real,' he explains. 'I had to go to hospital and get my rabies shots.' Do we know if the treatment worked, Ozzy? Thursday's National Geographic Channel tribute to Steven Spielberg's Jaws at 50 contains an observation from late comedian Richard Pryor. 'I loved Jaws,' he remarks. 'I really did because he didn't eat up no black people.'
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Emmanuel Macron under fire for breaching royal protocol as he walks in front of Charles during State visit
French President Emmanuel Macron has come under fire for seemingly breaking strict royal protocol after he walked in front of King Charles during a ceremonial inspection at Windsor Castle - prompting comparisons to US President Donald Trump. Macron, who was invited to inspect the troops in the Upper Ward of Windsor as part of a State visit, was seen strolling ahead of the monarch while reviewing the Grenadier Guards and Scots Guards. In a GB News livestream of the event, Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker noted the potential breach and drew a pointed comparison. He said: 'On your screens now you'll see the King is walking behind the President of France. 'If you remember a few years ago where Queen Elizabeth II invited President Trump of the United States, during his first term of office, to inspect a guard of honour, President Trump was heavily criticised for walking in front of Her Majesty the Queen. 'And as you can see on your screens here, President Macron is walking in front of His Majesty the King. 'Now, I understand that there shouldn't really have been perhaps so much of a hoo-haa with what President Trump did, as this is perhaps custom - that the King, as the host, gives way to the foreign head of state which is the honoured guest at Windsor Castle.' Despite Walker's attempt to clarify the tradition, many viewers were unimpressed by the optics of the French President striding ahead of Britain's sovereign. Social media erupted with criticism, with some users suggesting Macron's behaviour was a deliberate snub. One furious commenter wrote: 'He's doing it on purpose. He's French, he doesn't believe in monarchy and he's an absolute narcissist trying to feel like Napoleon for 5 minutes.' Others echoed the suspicion, with one saying: 'I bet Macron is doing it on purpose. I bet he won't get as much criticism as Trump did.' Another added: 'At least Trump corrected his error by waiting for the Queen to catch up, Macron thinks he is the supreme ruler there.' In the video clip, Macron is seen conversing with members of the King's Guard as King Charles walks a few paces behind - a detail not missed by eagle-eyed royal fans. One remarked: 'And conversing with the King's Guard, as though the King was not even there! Unbelievable.' Some royal watchers placed the onus on the monarch himself, suggesting King Charles had failed to assert his position during the formal proceedings. One commenter argued: 'I don't like it but The King has not asserted himself or held any position. Avid royal fans took to social media with a flurry of opinions, with speculations emerging of tension between the King and Macron 'By speaking at the WEF, he is basically a pawn in the game and positions himself on par with people like Macron… the King should not be aligning himself with such degeneracy.' While criticism of Macron dominated much of the online chatter, a few more diplomatic voices suggested that the order of walking may have simply followed longstanding custom in which the host monarch steps back to allow the guest head of state to lead during troop inspections. One person said: 'I think he is leading the way as he is the host.' Another agreed: 'He knows royal protocol.' But the spectacle struck a nerve with many royalists, who viewed it as an example of a foreign leader failing to respect British traditions. Though there is no evidence of any personal tension between the King and the French President, the moment added fuel to the reactions, with critics keen to draw links between Macron's perceived arrogance and what they view as a lack of deference to the Crown. Whether Macron's move was a diplomatic faux pas or a customary gesture remains up for debate but, for many, the optics alone were enough to spark outrage.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Meghan Markle Broke Royal Protocol at Her First Trooping the Colour
Meghan Markle's days of attending the annual Trooping the Colour ceremonies alongside the rest of the Royal Family are long over, but her first rule-breaking appearance is forever ingrained in history. The Duchess of Sussex made her Trooping the Colour debut in June 2018, a month after marrying Prince Harry in a lavish London ceremony, in a look that breached royal protocol. More from SheKnows Kate Middleton's 2025 Trooping the Color Look Honors Both Princess Diana & Queen Elizabeth II In case you need a refresher, Meghan donned a pastel pink Carolina Herrera ensemble, which included the iconic asymmetric silhouette. However, she broke a major royal rule: no off-the-shoulder looks at major royal events. You can see the photos below: As you can see, Meghan looked absolutely radiant on that day and nailed the unofficial pastel-colored dress code. However, this royal protocol rule-breaking shocked many. Bethan Holt even told The Telegraph at the time that Meghan's look 'will be compiled on her own terms. Hers is a 21st-century take on elegance that looks as pristine as is expected in her new royal role, but which also pushes some of the unspoken rules of the regal dress code.' The British royal family has a lot of dress code rules: no off-the-shoulder looks, you can't show your knees, nail polish has to be natural looking, wearing clutches in certain hands, and more, per Cosmopolitan. Now, obviously, Meghan isn't the first to break the off-the-shoulder rule. Back on July 19, 2017, when she donned an off-the-shoulder red gown from Alexander McQueen at The Queen's Birthday Party, and Diana donned this trend numerous times as a royal. Meghan then arrived at 2019 Trooping the Colour; she donned a dark navy ensemble from Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy, along with a fascinator by Noel Stewart, mere months after welcoming her son, Archie, per What Meghan Wore. By the time Trooping the Colour returned from its 2020 and 2021 hiatus, Meghan and Harry had relocated to the US after leaving the Royal Family, and amid an ongoing feud with Prince William and King Charles, the couple will not make their return this year. Per People, the couple are not invited to the festivities for a third year in a of SheKnows These Celebrity Couples Reportedly Sleep in Separate Beds 12 Times Kate Middleton Honored Queen Elizabeth II By Wearing Her Jewelry Every Look Kate Middleton Has Worn to Trooping the Colour Since 2011
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Princess Eugenie left one chair empty at her wedding and this is the reason why...
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank 's Great Gatsby wedding at St George's Chapel was pure sophistication from start to finish. The princess wore a low-back gown in an ivory brocade fabric with shoes by Charlotte Olympia. Her stunning emerald tiara is known as Margaret Greville's tiara and was inherited by The Queen Mother in 1942. Eugenie and Jack invited 850 royals, aristocrats, VIPs and friends - 150 more than Harry and Meghan when they married at the same venue five months prior. Among the guests were celebrities such as Cara Delevingne to Robbie Williams. Arriving on the arm of her father, Prince Andrew, Eugenie was beaming throughout the hour-long service, while Jack appeared overcome with emotion. But some eagle-eyed royal observers noticed one 'unusual' detail: One of the best seats in the church was left empty. People began to speculate why this was with some questioning if it was out of respect to a deceased relative, or that there was a missing guest. Some eagle-eyed royal observers noticed one unusual detail: One of the best seats in the church was left empty But the real reason was due to royal protocol - and to keep the late Queen happy. Traditionally the Queen and the rest of the royals sit in the right hand choir pews at St George's Chapel, closest to the altar. Royal protocol dictates that no one is allowed to sit in front of the Queen and obstruct her view. This specific seat is also said to be one the late Queen 'didn't find comfortable'. Instead it is thought that she preferred to be in the second row alongside her husband, Prince Philip. For this occasion, Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also joined her in the second row. The bride's mother, Sarah Ferguson, Princess Beatrice and Zara and Mike Tindall all sat in the front row. This gave the Queen - who stood at a mere 5 foot 3 inches - an unobstructed view of the nuptials. Eugenie had a close relationship with the late Queen, affectionately calling her 'Granny'. They often spent time together when Eugenie was a child, including summers at Balmoral. As an adult, they often attended various royal events together. Eugenie admired her grandmother's sense of duty, dedication, and love for her people, both in public and private. The Queen trusted Eugenie to wear the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara on her wedding day, as she had promised her as a child. It has been reported that Meghan initially wanted to wear this tiara for her wedding, but the Queen ultimately chose a different one. When Prince Harry married Meghan earlier the same year, he also left a seat vacant in front of the Queen. It was initially believed that this was in honour of his mother, the late Princess Diana but was later revealed to be for the Queen to have a better view. The Queen didn't need the accommodation at Prince William and Kate Middleton's 2011 ceremony, however, as she was seated in the front row then. According to Buckingham Palace sources, the spot in front of the Queen is always left empty. Queen Elizabeth memorably sat in the same spot at the 2021 funeral of Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years. Due to Covid restrictions that required social distancing, the monarch sat alone in the pew. Since Charles became king in 2022, this tradition has continued for him. At Queen Elizabeth's committal service, the chair in front of Charles was kept empty. There have also been occasions when the Royal Family has honoured the deceased by leaving a chair vacant. In 2021 following the death of his father, Prince Philip, Charles said there was a noticeably empty seat at his family's table, where his father would have once sat. The following year, in 2022, Charles left an empty seat opposite him in the Royal Ascot carriage in honour of the Queen's absence. Royal protocol is not a set in stone set of rules and is often broken for various reasons. Both King Charles and heir to the throne Prince William are much taller than the late Queen was, standing at 5 foot 10 and 6 foot 3 respectively. Their view is unlikely to be obstructed by somebody sitting in front of them but the tradition may remain for the sake of tradition. But for the wedding of Eugenie and Jack, this small detail meant that the Queen was comfortable and could get a full view of her granddaughter as she married the love of her life.
