King Charles and Queen Camilla are preparing for their first state visit to the United States later this month.
Ahead of their visit, etiquette expert William Hanson spoke to PEOPLE about how the occasion will differ from the royal couple’s formal affairs at Windsor Castle.
William said, “State entertainment is not particularly innovative. There is a perception that we did it this way once and it worked, so why change it?”
“It will follow the tradition of all other American state entertainments,” Williams said, referring to the White House state dinner on April 28. So, it won’t be white tie, but black tie.”
“The last time Americans wore white tie was when President George W. Bush entertained the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. This will be more informal. It will be very formal to most people but more informal than the British,” he said, referring to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s 2007 state visit to the US.
Additionally, the expert said there will be “more celebrities” and dinner guests will be served around “a round table rather than a long table like the Windsors.” It will look and feel a little different.
It is worth mentioning that the state visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla to the US will “celebrate the historic ties and modern bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and the United States, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence,” as Donald Trump said in the statement.
“The purpose of a state visit is to strengthen relationships, and the King is very friendly and a good conversationalist and has a good sense of humour,” says William.
He further added to the outlet, “He’s an interesting person to talk to – not that his mother wasn’t. But King is arguably more laid-back and a people person and interested in other people, which you have to be to do his job.”
