Photographer Shares a Closer Look at Kate and William’s Photo Where They Broke Royal Protocal
Prince William and Kate Middleton share a common goal for a ‘modern monarchy,’ so much so that they are not afraid to stray from protocols to be more relatable and natural in how they carry themselves. For instance, during Donald Trump’s state banquet dinner on September 17, the Prince and Princess of Wales were snapped holding hands outside Windsor Castle, breaking the late Queen’s rule against PDA. Now, the photographer behind the sweet picture, Matt Porteous, has shared a zoomed-in view, showing just how smitten the couple still is with each other.
Sharing the new close-up shot, Porteous penned, "One frame. Pure elegance, forever held in time." The picture, taken from behind, seemed to be edited from the one posted on the Waleses' account. The Prince and Princess of Wales had originally shared the picture on their Instagram stories, with a text overlay that read: "Behind the scenes."
The new photo has garnered a lot of attention, notably from Kate’s brother, James Middleton, and her ex-assistant, Natasha Archer. Porteous has been the Waleses' go-to photographer for years and has captured the royals for their Christmas cards with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. He is also known to be the man behind some of their birthday portraits.
The picture, inarguably sweet, is a notable break from protocol, as royals are forbidden from being too tactile to respect their roles as representatives of the Firm. Royal expert Emily Nash explained the logic behind the rule, telling HELLO!, "They are almost always seen in photographs taken during official engagements, so they are at 'work' and it would be unprofessional to hold hands. They also need to shake hands with a huge number of people as they meet them, so aside from being on duty, it wouldn't be very practical!" It is reported that this rule was brought about by the late Queen Elizabeth, but has since been relaxed during King Charles’s reign.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, in recent years, have not been afraid to indulge in a little PDA after the latter's cancer diagnosis, which has reportedly brought the couple closer together. Reflecting on their recent struggles, royal expert Katie Nicoll told The Mirror, "I’ve been with them on many occasions, and when the cameras drop, you’ll often see them walk away and Kate will put an arm around his waist, or he’ll place his hand in the small of her back." She opined that there is now a renewed closeness between them, compared to the start of their marriage, when they seemed shy about being affectionate in public.
The pair has also broken several other royal rules in the past in line with their belief in a new and relatable monarchy. Notably, Kate has occasionally foregone hats at formal events, which traditionally expect royal women to wear one. Additionally, she and William have clicked selfies with royal fans and hugged them, breaking the no-contact protocol with the public.