As the monarch bid farewell to the President and the First Lady, Charles’ commanding body language showed that he was not rattled by the unpredictable US leader
On the fourth day of the King and Queen’s US state visit, Their Majesties bid farewell to the US President and First Lady with a ceremonial farewell out the front of the White House in Washington DC.
After spending Wednesday in New York, Charles and Camilla travelled back to the US capital to thank their hosts before they departed for more engagements in Virginia.
The Trumps waited on the South Portico as the King and Queen arrived by car, where they stood for photos before being asked questions from onlooking reporters.
And according to body language expert Bruce Durham from Huddle Culture, the monarch remained cool, calm and collected as he stood alongside the unpredictable president.
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Bruce told the Mirror of their farewell: “What we’re seeing here is a subtle power play, and the sequence matters. As King Charles exits the vehicle, he does two things in quick succession. First, as he stands, he adjusts his jacket button. Now, realistically, that button will already have been checked multiple times. So this isn’t functional – it’s what we’d call a pacifying behaviour, a small self-soothing action as he transitions into a very public moment.
“But almost immediately, that shifts. With his right hand – specifically his right hand – he opens his posture, as if to say, ‘I am here.’ This is what’s known as ventral exposure: moving the arms away from the torso, exposing the vital organs. In many contexts, that signals a lack of threat or a sense of ease.”
The body language expert believes that it is Charles’ laid back demeanour that gave him the upper hand with Trump, as the US president’s erratic nature speaks for itself, and makes the King look even more in command.
He said: “In this setting, with the President and First Lady waiting, it communicates confidence. Whether consciously or not, the message is: I feel no threat here. It also emphasises ‘I am here NOW’ because it highlights they have been waiting for him, which they absolutely have. This just cranks up the emphasis on who had been waiting for who from a power play position.
“Then comes the interaction where President Trump tries to regain control. Trump moves in with a double-handed handshake. Now, this gesture can go either way. It can signal warmth and connection, or it can come across as overbearing or controlling. Given his known communication style, it’s reasonable to interpret this as an attempt to reassert presence in that moment.”
While the analysis of Charles’ body language was important in this setting, Bruce believes their conversations with the press highlighted more of their dynamic, as the King exercises the power of silence and lets Trump take the reins, in another impressive power play.”
“But the most interesting dynamic isn’t physical – it’s verbal,” Bruce explained. “There’s a well-known idea that the person who speaks first loses. As the press prepares to ask questions, Trump steps in early with praise, calling Charles his favourite king. The best ever!
“Then the reporters turn to Charles. He’s asked one question. Then another. And he largely holds silence. That silence is key. It’s the kind many people find uncomfortable – the kind that makes you want to fill the gap, keep talking, say something. And that’s exactly what happens. Trump steps back in, filling the space, offering another comment. Charles, meanwhile, stays composed and restrained.
“Now, considering the context – American soil, American media, the U.S. president beside him – you might expect Charles to feel pressure to engage more. Instead, he does the opposite. He lets the silence sit.”
“So what you end up with isn’t a dramatic clash, but a subtle contrast: One figure managing the moment through speech, and the other managing it through restraint. And in that small exchange – posture, handshake, and silence – you get a glimpse of how control can be expressed in very different ways.”
Bruce said that throughout Charles’ days alongside Trump on the state visit, he largely left the President to his own devices, as he used his soft diplomatic powers to solidify the monarchy’s strength.
The body language expert said: “For me in the videos I have observed, King Charles came, he saw, he conquered, dropped his mic and exited stage right with a grin on his face and a glint on his eye, much like he had on the podium the other night!”
