President Trump meets Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on UK state visit

Donald Trump is famous for his unusual handshakes but this greeting with Queen Elizabeth might just be his strangest one yet.

US President Donald Trump’s strange handshake with Queen Elizabeth II has raised eyebrows and questions about whether he followed royal protocol.

On Monday, the US President and First Lady received a 41 gun salute to mark their official welcome, with a further 41 shots fired to mark the anniversary of the Queen’s coronation on June 2.

The President chatted to the monarch at the steps of Buckingham Palace and overlooking a large lawn where garden parties are usually held.

He then inspected a military guard, stopping for a lengthy chat, as Prince Charles accompanied him.

His unconventional handshake caught the eye of those watching the event unfold, with one comparing it to a “ten step ghetto handshake” and others asking whether he bowed as protocol dictates.

A single frame from Trump and Brenda's elaborate, ten-step ghetto handshake. pic.twitter.com/vCN9aGsq31

— Damian Counsell (@DamCou) June 3, 2019

Queen confuses Trump with complex street handshake pic.twitter.com/bxTaHvYzTy

— Neal Underwood (@neal_sousbois) June 3, 2019

Prince Charles was the first to meet the President when he arrived on Marine One, in a break from royal protocol. Picture: AP Photo/Alex Brandon.

President Trump was ribbed about his hybrid handshake online. Picture: Victoria Jones — WPA Pool/Getty Images.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, along with US National Security Adviser John Bolton and Press Secretary Sarah Sanders watched the ceremony from the balcony.

After singing both the US and British national anthems, the President and First Lady were escorted inside where they exchanged gifts and had a private lunch with the Duke of Sussex.

SUBTLE MESSAGE

The Queen delivered a subtle message to royal watchers in hosting the official welcome to President Trump at Buckingham Palace.

In a break from royal protocol, it was Prince Charles rather than the Queen who met the President and First Lady when they arrived on US helicopter Marine One to mark the start of their state visit.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall crossed the lawn to shake hands with their guests before guiding them up the stairs to where the Queen was waiting.

The royal welcome differs from when the Queen and Prince Philip met US President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama from their helicopter in Windsor in 2016 and is a sign to royal watchers the 93-year-old monarch is handing more official duties to her son. She has stopped flying abroad and her husband Prince Philip, has retired from public life.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall also hosted the US President and First Lady for tea, with a private discussion and photoshoot capped off by a cheeky wink at the cameras from Camilla. It’s unknown what Prince Charles, a fervent environmentalist and the President, who has called climate change a “hoax”, talked about during the meeting.

The Guard of Honour waits to receive President Trump. Picture: Niklas HALLE'N / AFP.

‘NASTY’ COMMENT

It comes after the President said Meghan Markle made “nasty” comments about him in the past, when she called him “misogynistic” on a late night chat show.

The Queen handed over parts of her responsibility to her son Charles in a sign she is preparing for a transition of power. Picture: Adrian DENNIS / AFP.

US First Lady Melania Trump (L) and Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (R) hold their hats before they are caught by the wind as Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (C) stands with them during a welcome ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Picture: Adrian DENNIS / AFP.

President Donald Trump stops for a long chat with a member of the guard of honour. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images.

US President Donald Trump is greeted by Prince Charles, Prince of Wales on his arrival at Buckingham Palace. Picture: WPA Pool/Getty Images.

Ivanka Trump looks out of the window at Buckingham Palace. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images.

Not bad. The President is a fan of military parades. Picture: Toby Melville — WPA Pool/Getty Images.

Crowds outside Buckingham Palace. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The President and First Lady were shown American artefacts in the Queen’s gallery along with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. The Duke of Sussex gave Ivanka Trump a tour of the room but seemed to be keeping his distance from the bombastic President.

The Trumps visited Westminster Abbey to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and received a first edition of Winston Churchill’s “The Second World War” as a gift from the Queen. She also gave Trump a pen set, with a specially commissioned silver box for Mrs Trump.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump pay their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images.

He viewed American artefacts with the Queen. Picture: Tolga AKMEN / POOL / AFP.

Earlier, Ivanka Trump said she was “looking forward” to meeting the Queen. Mr Trump’s eldest daughter and special adviser posted a picture of herself outside London’s Victoria and Albert Museum ahead of the official visit.

“Today, Her Majesty The Queen will welcome @POTUS and @FLOTUS for a State Visit to the United Kingdom,” she tweeted. “I am looking forward to joining the US delegation for this commemorative visit.”

Ivanka Trump visited the Victoria and Albert Museum in London ahead of the state visit. Picture: Instagram.

Today, Her Majesty The Queen will welcome @POTUS and @FLOTUS for a State Visit to the United Kingdom.

I am looking forward to joining the US delegation for this commemorative visit. 🇺🇸🇬🇧

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) June 3, 2019

Mr Trump sparked furore just minutes before touching down in London, calling London Mayor Sadiq Khan a “stone cold loser” after Mr Khan wrote an editorial claiming it would be “un-British” to roll out the red carpet for the President after he has given “comfort” to the far-right.

MORE: ‘Stone cold loser’: Trump’s explosive start to UK visit

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He also made an unprecedented intervention into UK politics, saying Boris Johnson would make an “excellent” prime minister to succeed Theresa May when she steps down on Friday.

On Brexit, he said Britain should refuse to pay the EU a £39 billion pound divorce bill, send in Nigel Farage to negotiate and leave the EU with no deal if necessary.

Trump and Melania touch down on Air Rorce One. Picture: Isabel Infantes / AFP.

Trump blasted London Mayor Sadiq Khan ahead of landing in London. Picture: Odd ANDERSEN and Tolga AKMEN / AFP.

The visit will be marked by large protests, with five 20 metre banners already unveiled on a bridge opposite the US Embassy.

Amnesty International’s banners on Vauxhall Bridge say “Resist sexism”, “Resist racism”, “Resist hate”, “Resist cruelty” and “Resist Trump”.

The charity’s UK boss Kate Allen said: “Trump has presided over Two-and-a-half years of utterly shameful policies.

“Locking up child migrants, imposing a discriminatory travel ban, decimating global funding for women’s rights and withdrawing from global human rights bodies … We need to resist Trump’s trashing of human rights.”

Five Amnesty International banners opposite the US Embassy have a “resist racism” message. Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP. Sky News host Nicholas Reece says it is 'dangerous' for United States President Donald Trump to weigh in on politics on the United Kingdom in 'the crazy way' he has been.