During her remarkable 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II met with thirteen U.S. presidents. One such meeting, with President Jimmy Carter in May 1977, involved an alleged awkward incident with the Queen Mother. During Carter’s first international trip after his election, he attended a dinner at Buckingham Palace hosted by the Queen for NATO leaders. Upon the Queen Mother’s arrival, Carter, ever the Southern gentleman, escorted her to the line of guests. He was seated between the Queen and Princess Margaret during the dinner, across from Prince Charles, Prince Philip, and the Queen Mother.
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The controversy stems from reports quoting the Queen Mother saying that Carter kissed her on the lips. According to her biographer, she even took “a sharp step backwards” in response. However, Carter vehemently denies kissing her on the lips, asserting that he kissed her lightly on the cheek while saying goodnight. He expressed distress over the distorted reports but stood by his actions.
While the Royal Family’s website states there’s no obligatory protocol when meeting them, a bow or curtsy is traditionally observed. This incident raises questions about cultural differences and interpretations of social etiquette. Did Carter breach protocol, or was the Queen Mother’s reaction a misinterpretation of a harmless gesture?
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Beyond this incident, Queen Elizabeth’s reign was marked by numerous encounters with U.S. Presidents. She met every American president from Harry Truman to Joe Biden, with the exception of Lyndon B. Johnson. Her final meeting was with President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at Windsor Castle in June 2021.
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The Bidens also attended Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral in September 2022, and Jill Biden led the U.S. delegation at King Charles III’s coronation in May 2023. Upon Jimmy Carter’s passing in December 2023, King Charles remembered him as an inspiration and a dedicated public servant. The alleged kiss controversy, however, remains a curious footnote in the history of interactions between American presidents and the British Royal Family.
