Prince William and Kate Middleton Are Happy to Be ‘Touchy-Feely’ After Enduring ‘Hardest Year’
Prince William and Kate Middleton have shunned strict royal protocol and grown increasingly comfortable displaying their affection in public. Commenting on the same, royal expert Ingrid Seward believes that the Prince and Princess of Wales have endured a difficult journey together, especially following Middleton's 2024 cancer diagnosis, and have emerged stronger. According to her, they are now happy for the public to witness their more 'touchy-feel' gestures, reflecting a bold and confident phase in their relationship.
The Prince of Wales has acknowledged that 2024 had been the 'hardest year' of his life, referencing both Middleton and King Charles's cancer diagnosis. Weighing in on their difficult journey, Seward told PEOPLE, "William must feel so fortunate that Kate has come through this, that he wants to tell the world about that love. It shows the intimacy of them sharing that journey together." She added, "They are happy for people to see them be touchy-feely…William is very protective and very proud of her for coming through this and carrying on with her life." A source also echoed that William and Middleton are 'more open' now and "talk about their relationship together."
In a similar vein, body language expert Darron Stanton echoed that William and Middleton have come a long way from their shy and nervous engagement interview. As reported by Marie Claire, he opined, "William has always seemed deeply devoted to Kate, and she to him. They're comfortable showing affection in public, from playful touches to warm, genuine interactions." Indeed, the Prince and Princess, who were once sticklers for royal protocol, now embrace, hold hands, and hug each other in public, breaking the late Queen's royal rule. Royals are generally forbidden from being too tactile, appearing professional instead to respect their roles as representatives of the Crown.
Reflecting on their new 'closeness', after Middleton's cancer diagnosis, royal expert Katie Nicoll previously 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 [William] place his hand in the small of her back." Agreeing with her stance, royal author Duncan Larcombe opined that after their challenges, the Prince and Princess are more 'in control than ever.' He said, "They’ve had their ups and downs, but there's no doubt they are flying high. It's not easy being a member of the royal family, but, as a couple, they seem to be about as together as it gets."
William and Middleton's newfound intimacy was first highlighted in a video update about the latter's journey with her cancer treatment in 2024. The clip showed the royal couple packing on the PDA, handholding, kissing, and hugging, straying away from royal protocol. Most recently, after Donald Trump's state banquet, they posted a rare intimate photo on Instagram, lovingly holding hands while standing outside Windsor Castle. Their behavior comes as a stark contrast compared to their early years as a married couple.