Guernsey Press

Trump like a delighted child in picture with Queen, says body language expert

The American president inspected a guard of honour and took tea with the monarch at Windsor Castle.

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US President Donald Trump looked like “a delighted child” as he was pictured alongside the Queen inside Windsor Castle, a body language expert has said.

Judi James said the American leader appeared to be unable to contain his excitement at meeting the monarch in her historic royal residence.

Mr Trump was pictured grinning broadly, next to the head of state in the castle’s Grand Corridor, outside the Oak Room, with first lady Melania Trump on the other side of the royal host.

The president, whose visit to Windsor Castle lasted 57 minutes – 17 more than expected – kept his jacket unbuttoned.

Ms James said: “He does actually look like a Madame Tussauds model with his arms down and the grin on his face.

“He’s not trying to be cool at all. He’s obviously showing that he’s utterly delighted to be there with the Queen.

“He looks like a delighted child.”

The body language expert said the American president also appeared to be trying to feign confidence when he inspected the guard of honour with the Queen.

“He had this slightly swaggering walk with his jacket open,” Ms James said.

Donald Trump visit to UK
Donald Trump and the Queen inspecting a guard of honour at Windsor Castle (SGT Paul Randall RLC/MoD/PA)

As the Queen and Mr Trump walked across the lawn of the quadrangle to view the soldiers, the monarch appeared to gesture and point several times for the president to move closer to the front line of red-tuniced soldiers.

Mr Trump moved slightly closer, but then stood still in front of the Queen, meaning the monarch had to navigate her way around him so they could walk side by side.

“It was quite amusing. She almost had to dance around him,” Ms James said.

“He did literally eclipse her, but I don’t think that was deliberate.

“I think he just didn’t quite know what he was supposed to be doing and probably wondered where she had got to at that moment.”

Mr Trump also displayed hand movements of “suppressed dominance” as he tried to steer the Queen.

Donald Trump walking with the Queen
The president gestures with his hand as he walks with the Queen (Ben Stansall/PA)

“I suppose this was him trying to be charming.

“You could see that suppressed dominance where he felt that he had to still motion to her.

“He did that with Theresa May at Chequers, motioning her through her own door first.”

The Queen escaped any extended hand-holding, faced in the past by world leaders such as the Prime Minister and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Donald Trump visit to UK
Mr Trump shakes the Queen’s hand (Chris Jackson/PA)

The Queen, who has entertained all manner of world leaders during her 66-year reign, was described as the “perfect host”.

Ms James said: “She looked very polite. I’ve seen her recently chuckling and chortling quite a lot and she didn’t particularly go into that mode.”

She added: “She was the perfect host as always.

“The Queen’s body language – she’s done it so many times before – it’s all there in the muscle memory so any personal feelings never, ever emerge.”

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