When royalty takes a photo with an American First Lady, it is a historical snapshot in time. While some of these photographs predate the internet, they would undoubtedly have gone viral on Instagram today too.
Meetings between royals and First Ladies are primarily arranged for state diplomacy or to showcase positive international relations. So the pictures are usually taken on important State Visits, special meetings, or to even show aligning charitable focuses between the pairings.
When Melania Trump met Prince Harry in Toronto in 2017, the pair reportedly "spoke at length" about the success of the Invictus Games, a meeting that certainly got everyone talking. However, our list even dates all the way back to 1961, when Jackie Kennedy famously style-upstaged the late Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
Join HELLO! as we look back at some of the most momentous meetings between royals and First Ladies, from the 1960s to today...
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Eleanor Roosevelt and the British Royal Family – April 1948
Ready for a MAJOR throwback? Here's a classic photo from April 1948 as the British royals met with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D Roosevelt, on the terrace at Windsor Castle.
From left to right: Prince Philip and his wife, then-Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II), Queen Mary, King George VI, Mrs Roosevelt and Queen Elizabeth, the monarch's wife who would become the Queen Mother.
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Jacqueline Kennedy and Queen Elizabeth II – June 1961
It was a historic moment on June 5, 1961 as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip hosted President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy at Buckingham Palace – and for more reasons than one! Not only was it a landmark visit, but it also was an early example of royal style and first lady fashion becoming a story in and of itself. Many royal watchers at the time debated whether glamorous Jacqueline's silk Chez Ninon dress upstaged the monarch's Norman Hartnell creation.
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Betty Ford and Queen Elizabeth II – July 1976
Hat's quite a portrait! The British monarch and President Gerald Ford's wife both wore stylish headwear for their meeting in July 1976. The First Lady was showing Queen Elizabeth around the White House during the royal's official visit to the U.S. in honor of the American Bicentennial celebrations.
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Nancy Reagan and Queen Elizabeth II – February 1983
Both the first lady and the Queen were away from home for this meet-up in February 1983. Both wearing glam evening gowns on the red carpet, the two were attending a concert in Long Beach, California. The jaunt was the Queen's first visit to the West Coast of the United States.
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Nancy Reagan and Princess Diana – November 1985
The then-Prince Charles and then-wife Princess Diana famously visited the US in November 1985, and one of the most memorable events was a black-tie gala with President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Mrs Nancy Reagan at the White House. Along with Diana's black off the shoulder gown, the evening is also remembered for the moment the Princess took a spin on the dance floor with actor John Travolta.
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Barbara Bush and Princess Diana – October 1990
The very popular Princess of Wales charmed President George HW Bush's wife Barbara during a visit to the White House in October 1990. While the first lady wore her signature pearl necklace, the late Princess Diana donned a pink suit with purple accents by one of her favorite designers, Catherine Walker.
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Hillary Clinton and Empress Michiko of Japan – June 1994
The former Secretary of State and senator was in her first high-profile role as first lady when she joined Empress Michiko of Japan in June 1994. The two watched the welcoming ceremonies at the White House as the Empress and Emperor Akihito kicked off a 16-day visit to the United States.
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Laura Bush and Queen Camilla – November 2005
Then-Prince Charles and then-Duchess Camilla's eight-day visit to the US in November 2005 included this black-tie dinner at the White House hosted by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura. Both the Duchess and the President's wife wore floor-length gowns in autumnal hues for the celebration.
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Michelle Obama and Princess Charlene of Monaco – September 2013
Both fans of sports, former first lady Michelle Obama came face-to-face with former Olympic swimmer Princess Charlene of Monaco during a luncheon for first ladies at the Studio Museum in Harlem in September 2013. Heads of state and delegates were gathered in NYC for the UN's annual General Assembly meeting.
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Michelle Obama and Princess Catherine – April 2016
Princess Catherine and the First Lady had a tête-à-tête at Kensington Palace in April 2016. Catherine and her husband, Prince William, joined by their young son, Prince George, hosted a dinner for President Obama and his wife at their home.
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Melania Trump and Queen Rania of Jordan – April 2017
In her first meeting with a royal, First Lady Melania Trump chatted with Queen Rania of Jordan during a stroll through the White House West Colonnade. On the same day, President Donald Trump held a joint press conference with King Abdullah as the two met to discuss the Middle East peace process and other issues.
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Melania Trump and Prince Harry – September 2017
When Harry met Melania! During her first solo foreign trip since becoming America's first lady, President Donald Trump’s wife sat down for a royal meeting with Prince Harry in September 2017 ahead of the Invictus Games opening ceremony in Toronto. "It was an introductory meeting," Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s communications director, told HELLO!. "They spoke at length about the success of the Invictus Games and the men and women who serve their countries."
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Melania Trump and Empress Michiko – November 2017
On November 6, 2017, First Lady Melania Trump had a royal moment with Empress Michiko of Japan. Melania – who was visiting the country with her husband, President Donald Trump – enjoyed a chat with the Empress at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. This was Melania's third brush with royalty – she met with Prince Harry in Toronto and Queen Rania of Jordan in Washington, D.C. earlier in the year.
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Jill Biden and Queen Elizabeth II – June 2021
Former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Dr Jill Biden shared a memorable meeting with the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2021. The occasion was an understated affair rather than a grand state visit with formal banquets and ceremonies. Nevertheless, capturing a photograph with the monarch proved a truly historic moment.
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Melania Trump and Princess Catherine – September 2025
The autumnal outfits were on point during the state visit in September 2025, when the Princess of Wales and Melania Trump appeared to coordinate their ensembles intentionally. Arriving to meet the Scouts in Frogmore Gardens, both women embraced the change of season, with Catherine in deep moss green and Melania in caramel tones. The unified colour palette conveyed a sense of harmony during a key moment in US–UK relations.