The Prince and Princess of Wales recently joined King Charles and Queen Camilla in welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, to the UK during an official state visit.
The visit featured a number of high-profile engagements, including formal meetings and a state banquet. Photos of Prince William and Princess Kate, dressed in elegant eveningwear and posing with the Macrons, King Charles, and Queen Camilla at RAF Northolt, quickly circulated online.
Kate’s Curtsy Sparks Conversation
One particular video from the event began trending across social media platforms, raising eyebrows among royal watchers. In the clip, Princess Kate, 43, is seen performing not one, but four curtsies to the King and Queen as she and Prince William, 41, greeted them after the Macrons.
While William and Kate are future monarchs, they are still expected to adhere to royal protocol when greeting the current King and Queen.
Kate’s first two curtsies were done quickly, but they appeared to go unnoticed as Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, were still engaged in conversation with President Macron and Madame Macron. As a result, Kate repeated the gesture for a third time once she had their full attention.
Following the final greeting, Kate stepped forward and warmly kissed Queen Camilla on the cheek before offering a fourth curtsy to both the King and Queen.
French Formalities Also Raise Eyebrows
This isn’t the only moment from the visit that’s sparked online discussion. When the Macrons first met with the royal family, President Macron, 47, was seen greeting both Camilla and Kate by kissing their hands.
While some onlookers deemed the gesture overly romantic—or simply very French—it turns out this show of affection doesn’t break any royal rules.
The official Royal Family website clarifies:
“There are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting The Queen or a member of the Royal Family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms. For men, this is a neck bow (from the head only), whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way.”
Interestingly, King Charles later greeted Brigitte Macron, 72, in the same fashion—with a hand kiss—indicating that the gesture was both mutual and warmly received.
A Display of Respect and Protocol
While some viewers questioned the number of curtsies performed by Princess Kate, royal watchers were quick to point out the significance of the moment. Her multiple bows were likely a gesture of utmost respect, ensuring protocol was followed appropriately once the King and Queen’s attention was fully on her.
As always, the royal family’s public appearances continue to invite both admiration and speculation from observers across the globe.