Germany’s Angela Merkel made an embarrassing faux pas on Wednesday when she tried to fist-bump Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II, but was left hanging by the royal.
The German chancellor had rolled out the red carpet for Queen Margrethe’s arrival in Berlin, with the royal visiting the country with her son Crown Prince Frederik.
Merkel came forward to welcome the queen, aged 81 years old, as she stepped from her limousine in front of Berlin’s Chancellery. Merkel was wearing a lilac gown.
Pictured: Germany’s Angela Merkel (right with her fist raised) made an embarrassing faux pas on Wednesday when she tried to fist-bump Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II (left), but was left hanging by the royal outside the Chancellery in Berlin on Wednesday
But Queen Margrethe appeared taken aback when the outgoing Chancellor uncharacteristically extended her fist, offering a rather informal fist bump.
The Danish royal paused before placing her palm on her chest apologetically, signalling to Merkel that she would not be participating in the greeting which could be considered unbecoming for a queen.
Video footage shows Merkel raising her hands to the chest in an awkward exchange before greeting Crown Prince Frederik. He had just followed his mother out the door.
Merkel came forward to greet Queen Margrethe, aged 81 (right), when she got out of her limousine at Berlin’s Chancellery in a lilac dress.
Queen Margrethe (right) seemed surprised when Merkel extended her hand uncharacteristically, giving a very informal fist bump.
Merkel was left holding his fist as the Danish queen signaled to Merkel by placing her hand on her chest, signalling that the gesture could be considered unsuitable for her.
The masked trio then walked down the red carpet, and despite the faux pas were shown to be in good spirits as they had their photographs taken.
The first day of the four-day German visit, Queen Margrethe of Denmark (known as “Daisy” to her family and subject alike), saw Merkel meet with Queen Margrethe.
Both countries are neighbors and allies. They also have strong economic and political ties. He will also be participating in the remembrance activities.
Before the first-bump-gone wrong, it was a stroll through Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate. This is a customary state visit.
In front of the Neue Wache, a memorial for the victims of war and tyranny, the royal and her son laid a wreath.
The Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier presented military honors to the Queen and her 53-year-old son earlier in the day at a Berlin park. They watched the formation of an armed force before retreating to discuss.
Even though the faux pas was made, Merkel and Queen Denmark were still in good spirits while they had photos taken on the red carpet.
Pictured: On November 10, 2019, Queen Margrethe II, Denmark and Crown Prince Frederik Denmark visited the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
Queen Margrethe is also set to visit Charité, the largest university hospital in Europe.
Queen Margrethe still makes foreign trips, even though she is older. She has made more than 50 in her lifetime as queen.
Meanwhile, Merkel is expected to be in her final months as Chancellor after 16 years having announced that she would not seek a fifth term in the position in the 2021 election, which saw her CDU party suffer an embarrassing defeat.
She spoke out over the weekend and said she would no longer participate in politics after a new government was formed. This is expected to happen in December.
She stated that she would not be involved in political disputes and was not going to try to solve them. “I have done this for 16 years. I’ve been a federal chancellor since 1996. She said that her immediate goal for leaving office is to read and sleep.