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King Charles is currently on his nine-day tour of the Caribbean. His itinerary has focused on environmental conservation, economic development, and youth leadership across the Bahamas, Guyana, Antigua, and Barbuda.

He’s had quite the busy schedule. It features attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda to discuss climate change, trade, development, and the region’s legacy.

The king and his wife, Queen Camilla, also toured the colonial/slavery exhibition (the Government House Museum/Nelson’s Dockyard area), where they viewed artifacts including slave shackles, ceramic medallions, and a conch shell. The monarch later had an unexpected encounter and chat with Sir Idris Elba at Nelson’s Dockyard as the actor was hosting the One Commonwealth Night concert.

While at the Government House museum, King Charles was seen peering into the display case containing the ceramic medallions depicting slaves. He and the queen were also shown exhibits explaining the history of slavery in Antigua and Barbuda—including the Declaration of Emancipation from 1834.

Following the visit, an expert noticed how respectful the king was of that moment, as it came after a night of joking in the rain. Sean Johns is a body language expert and founder of BodyLytics, who has offered his expertise to several publications, including the New York Post and The Sun.

Johns told Showbiz CheatSheet, “[King Charles] bends toward the glass and lets his hosts do the talking. When a king hands the pace of a conversation to someone else, it reads as respect for the room. A day after joking in the rain, his hands are low, and the humor has gone. That’s a man who knows exactly which room he’s standing in. A serious face beside a cabinet of shackles shows attention, not an apology. The real test is whether his speech today matches it.”

The king’s humor returned later that day when it was appropriate, as he unexpectedly ran into Elba at Nelson’s Dockyard.

King Charles had just finished installing an engraved stone into a wall at the historic site when he bumped into Elba, who was at the dockyard hosting the One Commonwealth Night concert in his role as a goodwill ambassador for The King’s Trust.

The two men shook hands as the surprised king asked, “What are you doing here?” to which Elba quipped, “I get around!” while patting the monarch on the arm.

The Wire star then asked, “How are you doing, though? Are you having a good time? Sorry about the rain.”

Their interaction went viral, and fans had plenty of comments and questions.

One user wanted to know, “Is it ok to slap the King of England on the arm?” while another wrote, “Why can’t he stop touching the king? It’s not friendly, it’s rude and shows zero understanding of impropriety.”

But others just enjoyed the interaction between what looked like old friends, and pointed out, “They are mates in so far as people can be mates with a King. Sir Idris was one of the youths in the Prince’s Trust – now supports the King’s Trust.” and “Idris Loves King Charles. He was supported by his Prince’s Trust, which is now called the King’s Trust, which supports young people getting in the creative arts. It’s how Idris got his start. LOVE THIS!”

Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges that conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.

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