While King Charles and President Donald Trump dominated the headlines during the British monarch’s historic US visit, their spouses also commanded plenty of attention.
During the visit, First Lady Melania Trump and Queen Camilla once again spent time together, marking their third formal meeting. The trip also represents Camilla’s first visit inside the White House since King Charles III took the throne in 2022.
Their connection dates back to the Trumps’ visit to the United Kingdom, when the pair toured Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and the Royal Library. This time, while King Charles met privately with Donald Trump, Melania guided Camilla through the tennis pavilion, where they admired historical pieces in a more relaxed setting.
With the relationship between the UK and the US being strained in recent months due to the war in Iran, both Queen Camilla and Melania Trump approached their roles during the state visit in pretty much the same manner, according to royal expert and author Elizabeth Holmes.
Speaking to CNN, Holmes said, “Neither one of them is stealing any of the spotlight here. In this case, Charles and Trump are very much the focal point. And I would bet both men appreciate that. Certainly, Charles has had times in his life when he was not the focal point.”
The expert added that “the first lady as well as the queen are both representative of women who need to play this supporting part.”
Further, Holmes claimed that despite their friendly demeanor, Queen Camilla and Melania aren’t particularly close.
“I don’t know of any sort of established relationship between the first lady and the queen, nor do I think there necessarily has to be one,” the royal author told CNN. “This, to me, feels very much like the first lady and the queen are going through the motions of what their role requires.”
Beyond private conversations and lighter moments, the visit also unfolded through a series of formal ceremonies. Echoing the September state visit in the UK, Donald Trump seemed keen to go a step further in honoring the monarch.
A ceremonial military review was staged on the White House South Lawn on Tuesday, a gesture considered among the highest marks of respect the United States can offer a visiting leader.
But the mood of the day took a turn with the weather. The sunshine of Monday gave way to rain, an ironic shift that felt almost reminiscent of Britain itself.
While Camilla and Melania sat next to each other, the Queen made a rather British remark which left Melania stunned.
“Oh, it’s rather wet,” the Queen allegedly said as the two were preparing to sit down, according to lip-reading expert Nicola Hickling.
Melania agreed, replying that it “certainly is,” prompting a shared laugh between the two. Queen Camilla then quipped, “We shall have soggy bottoms,” playfully referring to the rain-soaked seats beneath them.
The comment appeared to catch Melania Trump off guard. Slightly puzzled, she responded, “What did I just hear?” before repeating the phrase: “Soggy bottoms?”
The expression, popularized by the TV show The Great British Bake Off, is often used humorously, something Camilla, a known fan of the program, seemed to be referencing. Perhaps it’s a phrase Melania might soon become familiar with.
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