During a formal exchange at Windsor, a sharp-eyed lip reader captured a moment that has now ignited a storm of speculation — President Donald Trump’s remark to Princess Kate — leaving many to wonder whether the words were a flattering courtesy or an awkward misstep.
On September 17, 2025, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were formally received at Windsor Castle by Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, in what marked the President’s highly publicized and historic second state visit to the United Kingdom.
A viewer comments on President Trump’s compliment to the Princess of Wales, dated September 17, 2025 | Source: Instagram/dailymail
The ceremonial greeting unfolded with all the pomp and pageantry of royal tradition in the Walled Garden of the estate shortly after the Trumps touched down by helicopter.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are greeted by Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales, upon their arrival at the grounds of Windsor Castle, on September 17, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
Yet it wasn’t the helicopters or the grandeur that stole attention. It was, according to professional lip reader Jeremy Freeman, Trump leaning toward the Princess and declaring, “You’re so beautiful, so.”
Princess Kate and Prince William welcome Donald and Melania Trump to Windsor Castle on September 17, 2025, in Windsor, England | Source: Getty Images
That fleeting exchange, captured in crisp video but without audio, has since become the subject of fierce debate. With Freeman’s interpretation now widely reported, the clip has ricocheted across the internet, leaving viewers stunned by what they believe they saw the President say.
Trump tells Kate ‘you’re beautiful’ after landing at Windsor estate. pic.twitter.com/Sem6J17pLc
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) September 17, 2025
The innocent-sounding yet controversial phrase immediately divided public opinion online. For some, it was nothing more than a harmless compliment, but for others it was an inappropriate breach of etiquette in one of the world’s most formal royal settings.
King Charles III talks with Donald Trump, accompanied by Prince William and Princess Catherine, as they await carriages, on September 17, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
Criticism poured in at lightning speed. Social media erupted with cutting words, with one viewer sneering, “Never misses a chance to be creepy,” while another posted, “Inappropriate as always.” A third added sharply, “So disrespectful.”
Princess Catherine and Prince William arrive at Windsor Castle with Donald and Melania Trump on September 17, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
And the backlash only intensified. One particularly scathing response declared, “This is not ‘charm,’ this is inappropriate sexual harassment in a professional situation.” Another piled on with, “I bet it made her @princeandprincessofwales skin crawl hearing that.”
Princess Catherine and Prince William arrive at Windsor Castle with Donald and Melania Trump | Source: Getty Images
Still, not everyone joined the chorus of condemnation. Others stepped forward, insisting the remark was harmless. “Why is giving a compliment seen as something sinister these days 🙄?” one asked.
Another defended, “She is beautiful. What’s wrong with telling a beautiful woman that she is?” A third chimed in, “He speaks from the heart.”
Princess Catherine and Prince William receive Donald and Melania Trump on September 17, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
This is far from the first time President Trump has made candid remarks about the royals during official encounters. Back in December 2024, after meeting Prince William in Paris at the grand reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, Trump couldn’t resist gushing in an interview with the New York Post.
Donald Trump greets Prince William, Prince of Wales, during the ceremony to mark the reopening of Notre-Dame of Paris Cathedral on December 7, 2024, in Paris, France | Source: Getty Images
“He’s a good-looking guy. He looked really, very handsome last night,” Trump said then, adding, “Some people look better in person? He looked great. He looked really nice, and I told him that.”
Donald Trump meets Prince William, Prince of Wales in the Salon Jaune room at the UK Ambassador’s Residence on December 7, 2024, in Paris, France | Source: Getty Images
And while Trump’s words to Princess Kate were the bombshell at Windsor, it was Melania’s outfit that had already caused an eruption of divided opinion online just a day earlier.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for a state visit at Windsor Castle on September 17, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
It was meant to be a monumental diplomatic moment, but all anyone could talk about was the First Lady’s coat.
As the Trumps descended from Air Force One onto the gray tarmac of London Stansted Airport on September 16, 2025, attention was supposed to be on their historic second state visit to the United Kingdom, a political event of unprecedented magnitude made possible by a personal, handwritten invitation from King Charles III himself.
A netizen’s comment about Melania Trump’s trench coat, dated September 17, 2025 | Source: X/lovecalligraph1
But while Washington and London’s political ties may have never looked stronger, it was the First Lady’s dramatic, floor-length trench coat that seized the spotlight and sent social media into a frenzy.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump disembark from Air Force One after landing at Stansted Airport, eastern England, on September 16, 2025, on the first day of a two-day visit to the UK | Source: Getty Images
Wrapped in Burberry
The First Lady’s eye-popping look for departure day included a Burberry Kensington Heritage trench coat that swept down to her ankles, Saint Laurent flat top sunglasses, and Empreinte leather riding boots from Dior.
Donald Trump and Melania Trump walk to Marine One as they depart the White House for London, United Kingdom, on September 16, 2025, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
Her husband initially wore a dark suit and red tie. But by the time the couple touched down in Britain, Donald had also donned a long, heavy black coat.
Donald Trump and Melania Trump walk to Marine One as they depart the White House for London, United Kingdom, on September 16, 2025, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
Professional lip-reader Nicola Hickling told the Daily Express US that the President turned to his wife while exiting the plane and said, “Ooh, it’s cold. I’m glad we’re wearing our coats.”
Donald Trump and Melania Trump arrive at Stansted Airport, in Essex, on September 16, 2025, ahead of a state visit to the UK | Source: Getty Images
Yet no one online was talking about Donald’s clothes.
