The late former US president Jimmy Carter was a relative novice at international diplomacy when made his first visit to the UK just four months into his term in the White House in 1977 – which resulted in him earning the displeasure of the Queen Mother after being said to have given her a parting kiss on the lips.
Photographs showed Mr Carter and the Queen Mother being all smiles as the president escorted her by her white-gloved hand to their places in a formal group portrait with the G7 leaders before dinner.
The story emerged six years later in a newspaper column, which revealed the Queen Mother had given an “anti-toast” to people who she does “not particularly like”, according to an unnamed dinner guest at her London residence of Clarence House.
But the evening would end with a short moment which would spark debate among British tabloids and the American media for decades afterwards, with the president accused of a total ignorance of royal protocol.
Did Jimmy Carter blow royal etiquette by kissing Queen Mother on the lips?
