Queen Camilla awkwardly snubs France’s first lady Brigitte Macron’s attempt to hold her hand

It was a royal gaffe.

On Thursday, Queen Camilla had an awkward moment with French first lady Brigitte Macron.

The royal, 76, was with Macron, 71, for an event commemorating D-Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France. Their husbands, King Charles, 75, and President Emmanuel Macron, 46, were also present.

The president’s wife reached out and attempted to hold Camilla’s hand for a sweet and solemn moment after the two women laid wreaths at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer. 

Unfortunately for Macron, Queen Camilla didn’t get the memo. She kept her arm awkwardly by her side as the French first lady tried to reach out. 

Eventually, Bridgitte grasped her hand quickly before stepping to the side. 

They then stood in silence before going back to their husbands.

Etiquette on how to greet royals has been a hot topic for a long time. In 2009, then-US first lady Michelle Obama made headlines for hugging the late Queen Elizabeth II. 

There was speculation that this move upset the queen, but her longtime dressmaker Angela Kelly recalled the situation in her book, “The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, The Dresser, and the Wardrobe.”

“The Queen has the ability to make everyone feel so relaxed that sometimes it feels instinctive to be tactile with her, just as Michelle Obama demonstrated during the State Visit with her husband, President Obama, in 2009,” she wrote.

“Much has been made about the meeting between Michelle and Her Majesty when an instant and mutual warmth was shared between these two remarkable women, and protocol was abandoned as they stood closely with their arms around each other’s backs,” she continued. “In reality it was a natural instinct for the Queen to show affection and respect for another great woman and really there is no protocol that must be adhered to.”

The royal family’s website states, “There are no obligatory codes of behavior when meeting The Queen or a member of the royal family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms,” which is defined as a slight neck bow from the head for men and a small curtsy for women.

But, the site adds, “a handshake is also acceptable.”

For his part, King Charles greeted President Macron with a hug and kissed Brigitte’s hand.