That moment in January sent commentators and opposition politicians into a spin, with critics suggesting it showed the relationship had become too close. Mrs May was quick to insist it was nothing like that – claiming the gesture had simply been „a moment of assistance“.

Even at their closest – remember their delight in telling the world they shared the same brand of toothpaste after a sleepover at Camp David – US President George Bush and then UK Prime Minister Tony Blair were never pictured holding hands.