A body language expert has weighed in on Melania Trump’s arrival in Windsor earlier today, suggesting the First Lady may have shown subtle signs of discomfort during her meeting with senior royals.
The Trumps’ visit marked a historic moment, as they became the first political leaders to be formally welcomed back onto British soil for royal reasons since the late Queen Elizabeth II hosted them in 2019.
After touching down on Marine One, the couple were greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales before being escorted to Windsor Castle, where King Charles and Queen Camilla were waiting. Following the official handshakes, Queen Camilla, Princess Kate, and Melania were seen stepping aside to share a private conversation.
According to body language expert Inbaal Honigman, who analysed footage of the encounter for Tyla on behalf of OLBG, Melania’s mannerisms hinted at unease compared with her royal counterparts.
“There’s a photo of Melania from the back, talking with Princess Catherine, with Camilla standing between them — it’s a fabulous picture,” Honigman explained. “As the ladies assemble for a chat, the most comfortable of the three appears to be Queen Camilla. Her feet are placed slightly apart, which shows she feels happy to take up space. Catherine and Melania’s feet are close together, which is more reserved.”
While all three women maintained calm smiles, Honigman noted that their hands told a different story. “Kate’s hands are in front of her in a position that could look protective, but her fingers are splayed, which suggests ease,” she said. “By contrast, Melania’s hand is tight into a fist — a classic sign of tension, showing she may feel a bit like a fish out of water in that conversation.”
The expert also pointed to the First Lady’s striking fashion choice: a wide-brimmed hat angled low across her face. “This is not the first time we’ve seen Melania wear a hat like this. From a body language perspective, it serves two purposes: it creates a safe space so others can’t come too close, and it acts almost like a cloak of invisibility, shielding her expressions from view,” Honigman said.
She added that facial expressions account for more than half of non-verbal communication. “The hat hides her forehead, eyebrows, and partially her eyes, which are the areas where frustration or irritation usually shows. By covering them, Melania makes it far harder to read her emotions.”
Although the First Lady smiled politely throughout the engagement, Honigman concluded that her subtle gestures suggested she was the least at ease among the trio of high-profile women.