French President Emmanuel Macron found himself at the centre of controversy at the end of his State visit to the United Kingdom. This was when he appeared to walk ahead of King Charles III during a ceremonial troop inspection at Windsor Castle - prompting an online firestorm and comparisons to former US President Donald Trump.
The incident occurred during an official welcome at the Upper Ward of Windsor Castle, where Macron and King Charles reviewed the Grenadier Guards and Scots Guards. A live broadcast by GB News caught the moment the French President appeared to lead the inspection, with King Charles a few steps behind.
Echoes of Trump's 2018 Visit
GB News Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker was quick to note the similarity to the 2018 State visit of Donald Trump, during which the then-US President drew harsh criticism for walking ahead of Queen Elizabeth II during a similar inspection. At the time, royal watchers and British commentators slammed Trump's perceived breach of protocol as disrespectful and arrogant.
'As you can see on your screens here, President Macron is walking in front of His Majesty the King,' Walker noted. 'If you remember a few years ago... President Trump was heavily criticised for walking in front of Her Majesty the Queen.'
Despite Walker's suggestion that the move may follow protocol in which a host monarch gives way to the visiting head of state, social media users were less forgiving.
Backlash from Royal Watchers
Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok were flooded with critical commentary, with many accusing Macron of deliberately disrespecting the British monarch. One user fumed, 'He's doing it on purpose. He's French, he doesn't believe in monarchy and he's an absolute narcissist trying to feel like Napoleon for 5 minutes.'
Another added, 'At least Trump corrected his error by waiting for the Queen to catch up, Macron thinks he is the supreme ruler there.'
A viral clip of the event shows Macron chatting with the King's Guard while Charles walks slightly behind, appearing almost like a secondary figure in the formal procession. For royalists and protocol purists, the optics struck a nerve.
'And conversing with the King's Guard, as though the King was not even there! Unbelievable,' one viewer commented.
Renewed Debate Over Royal Decorum
While some commentators accused Macron of arrogance, others pointed to longstanding diplomatic tradition. According to some interpretations of royal protocol, it is customary for the host monarch to allow the visiting head of state to lead during ceremonial inspections as a sign of respect and welcome.
'The King knows the protocol,' one viewer defended. 'He's allowing Macron to lead as the honoured guest.'
Even so, the viral spread of the footage and the renewed debate over royal decorum reflect the sensitivities surrounding appearances during such high-profile events. In an age of constant scrutiny, even traditional gestures can quickly be misunderstood or politicised.
Backdrop of a High-Stakes Visit
President Macron's full schedule during his three-day visit included meetings with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and various engagements focused on cultural exchange and bilateral cooperation. Franco-British relations are expected to be much stronger at the end of his visit.
Despite the uproar over Windsor optics, there is no public indication of any discord between King Charles and the French President.
Did President Macron commit a royal misstep? This remains subject to interpretation. But one thing is clear: when it comes to Britain's monarchy, perception matters as much as protocol.
And in this case, the image of King Charles walking behind a foreign president—however customary—was enough to ignite debate, nationalism, and no shortage of indignation from the monarchy's most ardent defenders.
