Prince William and Princess Kate Ditch Royal Protocol With Sweet Intimate Photo
Prince William and Kate Middleton stand united in their shared goal of modernizing the monarchy. The Prince and Princess of Wales have, hence, occasionally strayed away from some of the stringent royal protocols in their bid to do the same. For instance, they were not afraid to bend one during Donald Trump’s state banquet last week. A sweet behind-the-scenes photo captured William and Middleton lovingly holding hands, breaking the late Queen Elizabeth’s no PDA rule at public events.
William and Middleton posted the snap on Instagram, which showed them outside Windsor Castle in pitch dark after the state banquet. Their flirtatious moment was a break from protocol, as royals are forbidden from being too tactile, appearing professional instead to respect their roles as representatives of the Crown. Royal expert Emily Nash previously 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!"
William and Middleton are not alone in their reluctance to the tradition. Prince Harry has also been equally frustrated with the rule, as mentioned in his memoir, Spare. He penned, "The older generation maintained a nearly zero-tolerance prohibition on all physical contact. No hugs, no kisses, no pats. Now and then, maybe a light touching of cheeks… on special occasions." He went on to describe several moments where he wanted to hug the late Queen, but had to refrain from doing so. He stressed that members of the Firm rarely deviate from the tradition in public.
Etiquette expert Myka Meier told PEOPLE that royals are not obligated to follow the rule outside of public duties, which explains why the Prince and Princess held hands after winding up the state banquet. She said, "Senior members of the royal family would likely not be told how to interact or when they can or can not show PDA and would be trusted to use their better judgment as to when it's appropriate." She added, "The royals often adjust PDA to mirror the formality of the event they are attending. At a somber or more formal event, we are less likely to see PDA than at a casual event where it would be deemed more fitting."
At the state banquet, Middleton stunned in a Phillipa Lepley couture floor-length silk gown that featured a hand-embroidered gold Chantilly lace evening coat. William, meanwhile, looked dapper in a black suit donned with medals and ceremonial sashes. Middleton was seated beside Donald Trump at the banquet, where he complimented her on looking 'radiant and healthy.' Before the dinner, the royal couple were bestowed the important role of welcoming the Trumps to Windsor Castle to meet King Charles and Queen Camilla for the carriage procession.