'Why' Princess Kate didn't follow Prince William and kiss King Charles at Commonwealth Day service
Kate attended the Commonwealth Day service after taking a year off due to her cancer battle
Prince William and Princess Kate joined King Charles and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey for the annual Commonwealth Day service, a significant event in the royal calendar, this week.
As the royal family gathered, Prince William greeted his father with a kiss on the cheek.
However, Princess Kate didn’t share the same greeting with the king.
Princess Kate greets King Charles with a curtsy
Instead of a kiss or embrace, Kate curtsied to King Charles when he entered the Abbey. This is a customary sign of respect among female members of the royal family.
The absence of a kiss between the royals wasn’t a deliberate omission or a sign of tension.
HELLO! reports that instead, it likely reflected the formal nature of the event and the structured royal protocol in place at Westminster Abbey.
In formal settings such as the Commonwealth Day service, gestures like a curtsy or a bow take precedence over casual greetings like a kiss or hug, particularly when cameras are present.
Kate, 43, exchanged warm smiles with the king, showing their close relationship.
However, the Princess of Wales did share an embrace and cheek kiss with Queen Camilla.
The event was a highly anticipated appearance for both Kate and King Charles, as neither attended the Commonwealth Day service last year due to their health battles.
King Charles, 75, announced his cancer diagnosis in February 2024. Meanwhile, Kate shared her own diagnosis in March 2024, revealing she had been undergoing preventative chemotherapy.
After months of recovery, the Princess of Wales has been gradually resuming public duties and her presence at the service was widely praised.
Kate’s stunning outfit for the Commonwealth Day service
Dressed elegantly, Kate turned heads in a striking red Catherine Walker coat dress paired with a stylish Gina Foster hat.
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla, 76, opted for a pastel pink wool crepe and satin coat dress by Fiona Clare. She paired the outfit with a Philip Treacy beret hat.
The Commonwealth Day service also saw the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester joining the king and queen at Westminster Abbey.
Oh my God…. She is just PURE ELEGANCE.
However, Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, were absent, with Sophie jetting off to New York for a prior engagement.
Meanwhile, Kate’s graceful greeting to King Charles sparked admiration among royal watchers online.
One royal fan called her curtsy “perfect”.
Another gushed: “Oh my God…. She is just PURE ELEGANCE.”
With both Kate and King Charles gradually returning to their public roles, future royal engagements will likely see more appearances from the Princess of Wales as she carefully balances her health recovery and duties.
In a statement earlier this year, Kate expressed her excitement to return to her duties as she announced she was in remission.
“As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal,” she said. “I am, however, looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.”
Read more: Princess Kate’s ‘perfect’ curtsy to King Charles at Commonwealth Day service spotted by royal fans
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