During his goodbye at Windsor Castle, U.S. President Donald Trump shared a final moment with King Charles after a grand state banquet hosted by Charles and Queen Camilla. The banquet included formal speeches and a royal dinner and was the highlight of Trump’s state visit to the UK. The next morning, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump left Windsor to continue their trip at Chequers, the British Prime Minister’s country residence.
Reporters and photographers filmed their farewell, but no microphones picked up the words. To help figure it out, lip-reading expert Nicola Hickling studied the video. She believes Trump said, “He’s quite charming and has shown me a great deal.” It’s not clear who Trump meant,maybe King Charles himself, a member of the royal household, or someone who helped with the visit.
Hickling noticed that Charles’ reaction seemed a little tense. She saw his lips tighten and his tongue press against the inside of his cheek, small signs that he might have felt a bit uncomfortable—before he smiled politely and shook Trump’s hand.
After this private comment, Trump turned to the cameras and spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear: “Thank you very much, everyone. He’s a great gentleman, a great gentleman and a great King.” Trump repeated “great gentleman,” as if to make sure people understood how warmly he felt about Charles.
Many watching the exchange pointed out how different the two men seemed. Trump was smiling, confident, and animated, while Charles stayed calm and reserved. The reason for Charles’ brief awkwardness is unclear. It could have been the formal setting, a long evening, or maybe differences in opinion on issues like climate change or royal protocol.
