Kate Middleton has come under fire after some claimed she broke royal “protocol” during a recent appearance.
On 16 September, members of the Royal Family gathered at Westminster Cathedral for the funeral of the Duchess of Kent, who passed away on 4 September. Among those present were King Charles, Prince William, and Kate, as well as other senior royals.
A Moment That Sparked Debate
Prince Andrew also made a rare appearance, exchanging a few words with both Charles and William. But it wasn’t Andrew who stirred debate this time.
A single photo from the service left some royal watchers frustrated, with claims that Kate appeared to walk ahead of William at one point. According to critics, this was inappropriate, as William is heir to the throne and should always take the lead.
One social media user vented: “Kate is getting WAY ahead of herself. She’s walking in advance of the future King – where’s Angela Levin & her outrage at this horrendous breach of protocol?!”
Others were quick to defend her, pointing out the setting. “Their [sic] at a funeral not a formal event FGS,” wrote another.
A Historic Service
The Duchess of Kent’s funeral marked the first time in modern history that senior royals attended a Catholic requiem mass. Observers noted that the atmosphere seemed tense, with some pointing out signs of unease between William and the King, and even Kate herself looking uncomfortable at moments.
Kate is not the first to be accused of breaking protocol in this way. Former US President Donald Trump drew heavy criticism when he walked in front of the late Queen Elizabeth II during his first state visit to the UK — a move widely condemned as disrespectful.
That incident caused outrage at the time, and many now believe Trump repeated the mistake during his current visit.
Trump’s Controversial Return to the UK
Trump arrived at Stansted Airport at around 9pm on 16 September for what is now his second state visit to Britain — a rare occurrence for a US president.
The visit has been surrounded by protests and controversy, with much of the agenda kept behind closed doors to avoid confrontation with demonstrators.
In one striking act of protest, an image of Trump alongside convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was projected onto Windsor Castle. Police have since confirmed that four people were arrested in connection with the stunt.