King Charles and Queen Camilla break several royal protocols at U.S. state visit — including a rare kiss on the lips

KING Charles and Queen Camilla have officially departed the U.S., with the king headed off to Bermuda for a short visit and the queen headed back to the U.K. ahead of him.

While they were stateside from April 27 to April 30, the royal couple visited Washington, D.C., New York City, and Virginia, capping the visit off with a rare public kiss and a new, highly personal portrait. In fact, Charles and Camilla made a few gestures that were typically abnormal for senior royals—proof that the monarchy continues to evolve.

For example, the king, while in New York City visiting the 9/11 Memorial on April 29, performed a rare bow in what Hello! called a “poignant gesture.”

Monarchs are typically bowed to, not the ones that bow—but, because of the emotional nature of the visit and to honour the lives lost on that awful day in 2001, Charles gave the ultimate sign of respect.

Charles and Camilla said that they “stand in enduring solidarity with the American people” in a message left alongside a white bouquet at the memorial, which commemorates and honours the thousands killed during the September 11 attacks nearly 25 years ago.

Charles and Camilla were “clearly deeply moved, and the king was seen bowing his head in recognition of the tragedy,” Hello! reported. The monarch “is not required to bow to anyone, as he holds the highest rank in the royal family.” That said, Charles can choose to bow as a gesture of respect—one he showed on Wednesday.

As Charles and Camilla parted ways on April 30, the couple—married 21 years this month—shared a rare kiss on the lips as they wrapped up a successful state visit. The two were attending a block party in Virginia, celebrating the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence this year, and they were seen “exchanging a brief smile” before getting into the car, according to Hello!. 

It was another break in protocol, as Charles and Camilla are not typically prone to public displays of affection. The pair “decided to make an exception,” the outlet added, “as they will be parted for a few days and thousands of miles apart.”

As the U.S. state visit ended, Charles and Camilla also released a new portrait, taken at Blair House, the guest house of the president. In the shot, the couple look lovingly at one another and wrote alongside the photo, “Farewell and thank you for the warmth of your welcome and the kind support you gave us throughout our first visit to the U.S. as king and queen in this, your special anniversary year.”

“We leave a piece of our [heart emoji] behind and take a little of yours back home with us,” the message continued. “Until the next time…God Bless America.”

Speaking to Today on Thursday, Camilla said of their U.S. tour, “It’s been a whistlestop. It’s been really good fun, but we have moved quite fast.”

“It’s been wonderful, and everybody’s been very kind and welcoming,” she added. “It’s always a pleasure to be here.”