Michelle Obama has opened up about why she controversially broke royal protocol and hugged the Queen.
The former First Lady broke the “no touch” rule by putting her arm round the monarch’s waist during a 2009 reception, a gesture commentators branded “extraordinary”.
But Mrs Obama said that the pair bonded over the fact that their feet were aching in their high heels.
She said in her memoir, Becoming, they agreed a long day of standing had left them with sore feet.
Mrs Obama added: "We were just two tired ladies oppressed by our shoes.
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"I did what’s instinctive to me any time I feel connected to a new person."
The exchange took place on April 1, 2009, when her husband, Barack Obama, made his first visit to the UK as US President to attend a G20 summit.
Mrs Obama recalled that Her Majesty had commented on how tall she was and asked her if her shoes pinched.
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She said: "The Queen then glanced down at the pair of black Jimmy Choos I was wearing. She shook her head.
"’These shoes are unpleasant, are they not?’ she said. She gestured with some frustration at her own black pumps.
"I confessed then to the Queen that my feet were hurting. She confessed that hers hurt, too.
“We looked at each other then with identical expressions, like, when is all this standing around with world leaders going to finally wrap up?
"And with this, she busted out with a fully charming laugh."
Mrs Obama added: "I laid a hand affectionately across her shoulder.
"I couldn’t have known it in the moment, but I was committing what would be deemed an epic faux pas."
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It is not illegal to touch the Queen unasked – indeed the Royal Family website says: "There are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting the Queen or a member of the Royal Family.”
However it is generally frowned upon to go further than a formal handshake.
It is not the first time a dignitary has broken etiquette though.
Last year David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, gripped her arm as they left Canada House after attending a celebration to mark Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation.
And in 1992 Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating put his arm around the Queen – causing many a etiquette expert’s eyebrows to be raised.
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