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As King Charles and Queen Camilla gear up for their anticipated U.S. State Visit, the itinerary for their American excursion has been officially unveiled by the Palace.
Scheduled from April 27 to April 30, this three-day tour will see the royal couple make significant stops in Washington D.C., New York, and Virginia. Their journey kicks off in the nation’s capital, where they will be warmly received at the White House by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
While in Washington D.C., the royals are set to attend a prestigious state dinner hosted at the White House. In a gesture of solemn remembrance, they will lay a wreath and flowers to pay tribute to fallen service members. Following this, King Charles and Queen Camilla will head to New York City. Here, they have engagements planned with first responders and families affected by the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Their New York visit will also include separate appointments, culminating in a vibrant block party in Virginia to commemorate America’s 250th birthday.
However, as the royals make their way to the U.S. capital, a former aide to the British monarch hopes that President Trump will adhere to protocol, unlike his past meetings with the royals.
Grant Harrold, who served as King Charles’ personal butler for seven years, has insights into the royal etiquette that should be observed. During his tenure, Harrold was entrusted with various roles, including those of valet, housekeeper, house manager, and driver. Since departing from the royal household, he has established himself as a leading etiquette expert in the U.K., a best-selling author, and a respected royal commentator.
Grant Harrold was King Charles’ personal butler for seven years. During his time working for the now-monarch, Harrold’s duties also included those of valet, housekeeper, house manager, and driver. Since leaving the royal household, he’s become one of the U.K.’s leading etiquette experts, a best-selling author, and a royal commentator.
In 2025, he published his first book, The Royal Butler, which became an Amazon bestseller. He regularly appears on TV offering royal commentary on both current and historic news stories.
Speaking on behalf of Action Network, Harrold told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “Every time Donald Trump meets the royal family, he manages to break protocol. It’s happened so many times now, I think we can almost guarantee there’ll be a breach of protocol again. Most likely, it’ll be Trump doing the wrong handshake or putting his hands on the king, or even dare I say hugging a member of the family. So it’ll be interesting to see what happens this time.”
The king’s former aide added, “My advice to the Trumps would be to look, but don’t touch. As simple as that. Look, smile, be gracious, but please do not touch. Leave the king alone. Donald and Melania don’t need to bow or curtsy as they are not British. However, the president could do with working on his handshake, dignifying it a bit. It should be two or three pumps with your hands to the side, not too strong, not overpowering, not too limp — and make sure there is eye contact.
“Conversation is also key for these kinds of meetings. Trump should avoid asking anything too personal. For example, he shouldn’t ask about any royal drama. And it’s also vital that anything they do discuss is kept confidential and not repeated. There have been previous incidents where the president has shared details of his personal letters with the king, and this would not have gone down well at the Palace.”