High fives as Melania takes on Chelsea Pensioners at their own game
As a Slovenian-born former model, it is possible that Melania Trump has never before graced an English bowling green.
And the First Lady certainly cut an unlikely – if glamorous – figure at the Royal Hospital Chelsea yesterday morning.
Wearing stilettos and a sleeveless Victoria Beckham dress, she nevertheless threw herself into learning the game, receiving cheers from spectators and even a high five from a Chelsea Pensioner.
As her husband Donald Trump met with Theresa May for talks, Mrs Trump joined Philip May to discuss the importance of kindness with primary schoolchildren before a game of bowls at the historic retirement home for former soldiers.
Earlier, she participated in another great British tradition as she met children from Saint George’s Church of England primary school and helped them make remembrance poppies.
She greeted the children with a cheery “Hello!” and a smile, shaking their hands, and asking one of them to show her how to assemble one of the paper flowers.
The First Lady’s attempt was deemed “very professional” by her companion Mr May, as she thanked the children for teaching her the technique.
The unlikely pair seemed quite relaxed in each other’s company, despite their different backgrounds, having greeted each other warmly at the start of the day.
Mrs Trump, who launched a campaign earlier this year to encourage children to be kind to each other, listened intently as the pupils talked about values and service. She sat beside Mr May in front of a poster that said “Be the best you can be”, as they participated in a group discussion with three veterans and 10 children.
In response to a pupil who asked: “Why is your motto ‘Be Best’?”, she said: “I want to help children be best in everything that they do, to be best at whatever your passion is, where you’re focused – everything in life, really … and be best with each other, to be kind,” CNN reported.
To end the visit, the pair moved outside to the bowling green, where the First Lady received tips on her technique from the children as Chelsea Pensioners looked on and pupils waved US and UK flags.
Mrs Trump, who was born in Slovenia before launching her career as a model and moving to the United States, becoming a US citizen in 2006, seemed keen to learn the very British game of lawn bowls from a young pupil who taught her how to hold the ball properly.
She received a vote of confidence from at least one spectator, initiating a high five with a Chelsea Pensioner after he gave her the thumbs up.
‘I want to help children be best in everything that they do … and be the best with each other, to be kind’
One of her young coaches prompted amusement from onlookers after encouraging his protégée to throw the ball “a bit harder” after a poor shot, according to CNN.
The visit ended ahead of a lunchtime press conference held by the Prime Minister and President Trump, in which he apologised to Mrs May for newspaper reports criticising her leadership.
Mrs Trump was reunited with her husband for a visit to the Queen at Windsor Castle later yesterday afternoon.