During his visit to the NATO summit at The Hague, Donald Trump met with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands – and many spotted a peculiar gesture by Maxima
A senior royal has been accused of mocking Donald Trump as they made an appearance together on live TV. The US president had been attending a NATO summit in The Hague, and during his time in the Netherlands, he was invited to stay at the Huis ten Bosch Palace, one of the Dutch King Willem-Alexander’s official residences.
After his stayover at the palace, the US president joined the King and his wife Queen Maxima for a photocall, which was broadcast live on TV. Trump stood in between the royal couple for a photo and gave the thumbs up as he told the photographer: “That’s the picture we want!” The King then asked Trump: “You slept well.
Donald Trump with the Netherlands’ King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima(Image: AP)
To which the president replied: “It was great.” A photographer then shouts: “Thank you all very much” and Trump adds: “Thank you very much”. And in an incredible moment, Maxima looks at the president before turning to the camera and making a gesture with her lips, which some have taken as her mocking him.
Trump joined world leaders including Prime Minster Keir Starmer for the NATO summit yesterday, where it was agreed more money would be put towards military spending.
However, the Dutch King and Queen aren’t the only royal couple to have an encounter with the president. Yesterday, it was reported that Trump is to make a full state visit to the UK later this year as King Charles and the US president’s busy diaries mean they are unable to meet informally first over the summer.
The Times reported that Keir Starmer has gone against the wishes of the King by bringing Mr Trump’s “bells and whistles” state visit forward to September. The newspaper said the Palace had been hoping for a more leisurely approach building towards the state visit, amid concern over Mr Trump’s threat to make Canada the US’s 51st state.
Many accused Maxima of mocking Trump
Charles, who is King of Canada, suggested in a letter personally delivered to Mr Trump by Sir Keir in the Oval Office in February that they might meet at Balmoral or Dumfries House Scotland first before the much grander state visit.
But it is understood that, although all options were explored, there were logistical challenges surrounding an informal visit, with complexities in both the King and Mr Trump’s diaries meaning a private meeting was not possible over the course of the summer months.
The diary issues come despite the King heading to Scotland for his summer break each year, and Mr Trump being expected to visit his new, second golf course in Aberdeenshire when it opens this summer.
King Charles is set to welcome Trump to the UK in September (Image: PA)
It is said that the logistical reasons why the private meeting cannot precede the state visit are understood and appreciated by all parties. Formal planning for the official state visit has now begun.
Precedent for second-term US presidents who have already made a state visit is usually tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle, as was the case for George W Bush and Barack Obama. But Mr Trump is being treated with an unprecedented second state visit for a US president, this time at Windsor.
The Times suggested Sir Keir was hoping to prioritise his attempt to curry favour with Mr Trump and capitalise on the president’s fascination with the royal family.
Asked if No 10 had overruled the King over the visit, a Downing Street spokesman said: “That’s untrue. During his visit to the White House in February the Prime Minister was delighted to extend His Majesty the King’s invite for a historic second state visit to the president and first lady and the president was pleased to accept. Of course, the Prime Minister looks forward to welcoming President Trump.”
