Did Jimmy Carter Kiss the Queen Mother? All About the Reported Story

Mar. 15, 2025

The Queen Mother and President Jimmy Carter in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace on May 7, 1977.Photo:PA Images via Getty

PA Images via Getty

Jimmy Carterwas one of the 13 U.S. presidents thatQueen Elizabethmet during her history-making reign, which allegedly included an awkward moment involving another member of the royal family.

In May 1977, Queen Elizabeth welcomed Carter to Buckingham Palace for a dinner with NATO leaders during his first trip abroad after being elected. As the newly-minted President Carter stood with the Queen and other guests, “he noticed the arrival of the Queen Mother,” theAssociated Pressreported. Queen Elizabeth’s mother was also named Elizabeth and became popularly known as theQueen Motherupon her daughter’s sudden accession in 1952 following the sudden death of King George VI.

According toThe Washington Post, the Queen Mother was later quoted as saying that Carter kissed her on the lips.

Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, the Queen Mother, President Jimmy Carter and Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace on May 7, 1977.PA Images via Getty

“I took a sharp step backwards — not quite far enough,” the Queen Mother later wrote, according to her biographer William Shawcross,Sky Newsreported.

The former American president, however, denied that he kissed her on the lips and said instead it was “lightly on the cheek” while saying goodnight after the diplomatic dinner.

As outlined on the royal family’swebsite, there are no obligatory codes of behavior when meeting a member of the Royal Family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms, including a bow for men, a curtsy for women or a handshake.

National leaders and royalty in London, 1977. Left to right are Pierre Trudeau, Princess Margaret, Takeo Fukuda, James Callaghan, Valery Giscard d’Estaing, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, the Queen Mother, Jimmy Carter, Giulio Andreotti, Helmut Schmidt.Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty

Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty

During her historic 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth met with more than a dozen sitting U.S. presidents, including every American commander-in-chief since Harry Truman (with the exception of Lyndon Johnson). The two would have crossed paths atJohn F. Kennedy’s funeral in November 1963, but she wasunable to travelto America because she was pregnant withPrince Edward, born in March 1964.

PresidentJoe Bidenwas the last U.S. president that Queen Elizabeth would ultimately meet. In June 2021, the president and his wife, first ladyDr. Jill Biden, traveled toWindsor Castlefollowing the Group of Seven (G-7) Summit.

First lady Dr. Jill Biden, Queen Elizabeth and President Joe Biden before tea in Windsor Castle in June 2021.STEVE PARSONS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

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They were welcomed at the dais in the Quadrangle of the castle, and a Guard of Honor formed of the Queen’s Company First Battalion Grenadier Guards gave the First Couple a royal salute. The Queen and the Bidens then had tea inside the 1,000-year-old castle.

The couplelater representedthe United States at Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral in September 2022, and Jill returned to London to lead theU.S. delegationat the coronation ofKing CharlesandQueen Camillain May 2023. She attended the historic service with their granddaughter, Finnegan Biden.

Carter died at age 100on Dec. 29 at home in Plains, Georgia. That same day, King Charles wrote about the former president, calling him"an inspiration to many"and “a committed public servant.”

source: people.com