Queen Camilla's Very Awkward Reaction to Protocol Breach

Queen Camilla appeared to physically retreat when France's First Lady attempted to take her hand during a D-Day commemoration event.

Brigitte Macron joined Camilla to lay flowers during a Royal British Legion ceremony marking 80 years since the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944.

The pair were at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France, when moments later Macron reached over, seemingly hoping to hold the queen's hand.

However, a video clip published by the Daily Mail showed Camilla step away from her host, even as the first lady followed, continuing to attempt to hold her hand.

There are officially no formal rules governing how to greet a royal but it is widely understood etiquette that there should not be physical contact unless the royal family member initiates it or agrees to it first.

In the past, such breaches have often been met with reciprocal warmth, for example when Michelle Obama hugged Queen Elizabeth II without realizing it was not expected but still earned a hug in return.

Camilla, however, appeared in no mood to stand holding hands in front of a memorial to British soldiers killed in Normandy with Macron, even as a guest in France.

The Royal Family's website reads: "The King and Queen meet thousands of people each year in the UK and overseas. Before meeting Their Majesties, many people ask how they should behave.

"The simple answer is that there are no obligatory codes of behaviour—just courtesy.

"However, many people wish to observe the traditional forms of greeting. For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way.

"On presentation to The King or Queen, the correct formal address is 'Your Majesty' and subsequently 'Sir' or 'Ma'am,' pronounced with a short 'a,' as in 'jam'."

King Charles III joined Camilla for the engagement while Prince William was also out in Normandy but on Juno Beach for the Canadian ceremony.

During his speech, he said: "Standing here today in peaceful silence, it is almost impossible to grasp the courage it would have taken to run into the fury of battle that very day.

"The assault on D-Day remains the most ambitious military operation in history. The events of that windy, gray day, ultimately led to the liberation of Europe, but it came at a heavy cost.

"We continue to honor every Canadian, who gave so much. Every Canadian family who lost a loved one. Every Canadian who lived with the scars of battle, both physical and mental.

"I want to thank you, our veterans, for your extraordinary acts of bravery and sacrifice, on Juno Beach, and the liberation of Europe.

"All of you, demonstrated heroism, and determination, that ensured fascism was conquered."

Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.

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