Denzel Washington’s Tense Body Language Spoke Volumes During His Awkward Meet-Cute with King Charles

From Taylor Swift’s major body language shift at football games to Prince William’s odd get-together with David Beckham, I’ve seen my fair share of awkward interactions among celebrities. Still, this recent meet-cute between King Charles and Denzel Washington takes the cake. 

Last week, King Charles attended the London premiere of Gladiator II at the Leicester Square Odeon. When he arrived at the event, the royal took a moment to greet each cast member, including Washington.

I wasn’t sure what to expect because it’s not every day that King Charles meets an A-list actor. However, I never expected the interaction to go so strangely—and Washington’s tense body language confirmed just how awkward it was.

When Washington greeted the king, he wasn’t exactly sure of the proper royal protocol. As the monarch approached, the two shook hands as the actor stammered, “I didn’t know if I was supposed to grab you or not, but my pleasure.”

Washington’s body language confirmed that he was a nervous wreck. Although he leaned in while talking to the king, he kept his shoulders in a stoic position and used his head to lessen the space between the two, which indicates that he was unsure how to behave.