LONDON — As gaffes go, it was minor. But someone should have told President Trump that if one is invited to give the toast at a Buckingham Palace state banquet, then clinking glasses with Queen Elizabeth II is simply not the done thing. And certainly, don’t touch her.
She looked as if she enjoyed the departure as she was beaming a broad smile at her American guest after he put his hand on her elbow.
It all marked an unconventional end to the first day of Trump’s first state visit to the U.K., a day that celebrated the full pomp and ceremony of a royal occasion.
Tuesday brings the nitty-gritty of bilateral talks, but Monday night was all about the occasion, with its intricate place settings involving 2,000 pieces of gilt cutlery and 107 candelabras.
*Do not clink glasses, especially if there are more than four people involved. It’s an old custom having to do with driving away evil spirits, and it’s bad news for glassware. Simply lift your glass and say, “Hear, hear”, or “Cheers.”
— Bill Barnes (@wmsbarnes) June 3, 2019
Some 171 guests were served steamed fillet of halibut with watercress mousse followed by saddle of new-season Windsor lamb and rounded off with strawberry sable — a type of French shortbread cookie.
They heard two heads of state deliver warm praise as each recalled the strong bonds forged through shared centuries, a common culture, and the sacrifice of D-Day.
“From the Second World War to today, Her Majesty has stood as a constant symbol of these priceless traditions,” he said. “She has embodied the spirit of dignity, duty and patriotism that beats proudly in every British heart.”
“On behalf of all Americans, I offer a toast to the eternal friendship of our people, the vitality of our nations, and to the long-cherished and truly remarkable reign of Her Majesty the Queen,” he said.
Rather than leaving the tribute hanging in traditional style, he could not resist adding, “Thank you,” before reaching to touch the queen’s elbow in tribute — another no-no — and picking up his glass to clink with hers.
He is not the first member of the first family to commit such a faux pas. In 2009, Michelle Obama put her arm around the queen during the first meeting, apparently unaware that protocol does not permit any touching, let alone hugging.
Two years later, her husband managed to talk over the British national anthem during a state banquet. He paused so long mid-toast that the band simply struck up before he had finished.
But neither caused as much offense as President Jimmy Carter who kissed the Queen Mother in 1977.
Clinking of glasses may be the custom in cheaper hostelries but is generally eschewed by high society, where thin crystal goblets are less robust.
Trump and his wife Melania were joined at the dinner by the president’s four adult children.
The royals were represented by Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, as well as Prince William and his wife Kate.
They heard the queen celebrate the links between the two countries.
“And with your own Scottish ancestry, Mr. President, you too have a particular connection to this country,” she said.
Her toast brought the conviction that the two countries would remain united by shared interests.
“Tonight, we celebrate an alliance that has helped to ensure the safety and prosperity of both our peoples for decades, and which I believe will endure for many years to come,” she said.
