Weekend ReadsWhy President Trump Doesn't Have to Bow to the Queen — and Melania Doesn't Have to Curtsy

© Provided by TIME Inc. Why President Trump Doesn't Have to Bow to the Queen — and Melania Doesn't Have to Curtsy

President Donald Trump and his family are heading to the U.K. next week for his first state visit after multiple delays, again putting a spotlight on the matter of royal protocol — what is and is not acceptable when he meets Queen Elizabeth.

Last summer, during a working visit to the U.K., Trump made headlines when he shook hands with the 92-year-old monarch instead of bowing.

While the move was criticized by some online, it was not against the rules (such as they are).

“There are no obligatory codes of behavior when meeting The Queen or a member of the Royal Family,” according to the royal family’s official website, “but many people wish to observe the traditional forms.”

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Donald Trump and Melania were welcomed by the Queen , the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at Buckingham Palace this afternoon. The couple did not bow or curtsy to the Queen as most guests would. Instead, Her Majesty offered her hand for a formal handshake.

So no, Trump doesn ' t have to bow if he doesn ' t want to, and Melania Trump doesn ' t have to curtsy . But if they want to observe traditional British customs, then they probably will. There are surprisingly few official traditions for people to follow when meeting the royal family, even beyond the

For men, this means “a neck bow (from the head only).” For women, “a small curtsy.”

However, the website notes, “Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way.”

A handshake is not unusual for a president or first lady: Barack Obama and Michelle Obama also opted to shake the Queen’s hand over bowing to her while visiting Windsor Castle back in 2016.

Trump was first invited for a state visit — an offer that must be extended by the Queen — in 2017 but it was repeatedly held off, with speculation that the delay was due to worries over the protests he might face.

© Provided by TIME Inc. President Donald Trump greets Queen Elizabeth on July 13, 2018 | Chris Jackson/Getty

Among other controversies in his relationship with Britain, Trump sparked intense backlash in June 2017 after he attacked London’s mayor in the wake of a terror attack there.

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Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate Middleton will join the Queen for the palace lunch.

This explains why President Trump and Melania chose to greet the Queen with a handshake last year, and why they could do the same again next week. Looking back on former President Barack and Michelle Obama's state visit in 2011, neither he nor his wife bowed or curtsied to the Queen

To: C19fan. President Trump or any president does not bow to any leader. And neither does any citizen of the United States. That was settled in history over 200 years ago. When Nancy Reagan was presented to the court and curtsied to the Queen of England, it was an embarrassing moment for

In July he met with the Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle amid the expected protests about his working trip. A “Stop Trump March” in London drew tens of thousands of people.

The state visit next week while be three days, Monday-Wednesday, and include a private lunch with the Queen at Buckingham Palace, tea with Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The Queen will also host a state banquet for the president.

In an interview ahead of his meeting with the Queen last year, Trump said, “She is a tremendous woman. I really look forward to meeting her. I think she represents her country so well.”