Prince William and Kate Middleton sent fans into a frenzy after showing a major PDA at the 2023 BAFTAs Sunday, February 19. The royals rarely show public affection, but when they do, the public quickly goes wild.
Kate gave Prince William a light tap on the behind as they walked the red carpet at the Royal Festival Hall in London. They were even happily talking to each other, making them a delight.
The Prince and Princess of Wales took a night off from their parenting duties and watched the special event to meet the winners and the EE Rising Star Award nominees. It was the first time the two graced the event in three years after the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The heir to the throne has been the BAFTA’s president since 2010, while his wife joined him at the award’s show in 2017. They were all smiles as they greeted everyone when they started walking on the red carpet while being cheered by royal fans.
After seeing their sweet gesture, fans couldn’t help but leave comments on their cute scene on Instagram. Love them, one fan said, while another claimed it was nice to see them relaxed. A different fan described them as the best couple, while others said it was a cute scene.
Kate stunned everyone with her white Alexander McQueen gown, which she had already donned at the event in 2019. However, it seemed to have minor alterations today, with a sweeping train in place of the floral detailing on the shoulder.
The Duchess of Cornwall paired the look with black opera gloves and gold earrings from Zara that only cost £18. Alternatively, the Duke of Cornwall opted for a simple, double-breasted black velvet tuxedo.
Meanwhile, Myka Meier, a royal etiquette expert, revealed why Prince William and Kate rarely showed PDA because it was what any person would do when they were on the job. She told People that technically, they worked as representatives of the British monarchy, so it was highly likely that they would show very little PDA to remain professional during their designated roles overseas.
Though there are no written rules, the royal family tends to avoid showing major PDA while on official business for the monarchy. Prince William and Kate aren’t the only ones who follow this unspoken rule. Even the late Queen Elizabeth II rarely publicly held hands with her husband, Prince Philip, when they were on duty.