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The royal family is all about proper etiquette during social interactions, and that includes the ones they have with each other. But during the Commonwealth Day service this year, Kate Middleton and Princess Anne switched things up when they greeted each other, forgoing their usual kiss on the cheek. And since few gestures (or lack thereof) are accidental in The Firm, what does the change actually mean?
Commonwealth Day took place on March 9.
Each year, the royals celebrate the Commonwealth — or the countries that work together for common goals, including the UK — with events related to the holiday, including a service at Westminster Abbey that the senior members of the family attend each year.
This year’s festivities were a bit different, though. Not only was this the first big royal event since the former Prince Andrew was arrested, it was also the first time that the BBC didn’t air the services on TV, as People reported, which the network claimed was due to “funding” issues.
Kate and Anne were spotted laughing as they greeted each other.
Daily Mail royal reporter Rebecca English shared a video of the royals socializing before the service at the famous church on Instagram. The footage included the moment that Kate and Anne greeted each other when they arrived at Westminster Abbey, and rather than going in for the (very British) cheek kiss they would normally do, Anne jokingly leaned away from Kate as the women laughed together.
Kate’s hat might have been to blame.
It sounds like Rebecca believes this was because of the large, navy blue hat that Kate was wearing, as she wrote in her caption, “There was no way Princess Anne was going to attempt a kiss under a hat like the Princess of Wales’.”
If that’s the true reason for a small break in etiquette, nobody can blame her — that’s a pretty big hat, so it’s no wonder Anne would want to try to get avoid being hit by it!
Some others in the caption had a good chuckle at this moment writing, “I love Princess Anne and that ‘kiss,'” “Love her and Princess Catherine. Two of the most regal beautiful ladies in the royal family,” and “Seems like she sends her an air kiss before they are in front of each other.”
If only we could read their lips and figure out what the conversation they were having about the situation was, but as far as we can tell, they at least both kept a good sense of humor about the whole situation (and no one was formally punished for the slight breech in etiquette… not that we’ve ever seen that happen publicly before, of course).
And despite a bit of a wardrobe obstacle, it looks like the Commonwealth celebrations went off without a hitch, which is what really matters.
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