The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are traditionally known for being reserved during public engagements.
However it seems Kate, 37, and William, 36, may have taken a leaf out of Harry and Meghan’s book, after a behind-the-scenes video emerged today, showing the Cambridges holding hands as they boarded a helicopter to Blackpool on Wednesday.
Kate and William were headed to the seaside town, where they spent the day visiting a series of innovative projects focused on investment and regeneration, as well as learning how the resort is tackling some of the social and mental health problems faced by people in Britain.
Kate cut an elegant figure in the rain, opting for an olive £940 Sportsmax coat, a £225 Michael Kors patterned peacock dress, and accessorised with a recycled £435 green Manu Atelier bag and black knee-high boots.
And now a new video, taken by a royal fan outside their Kensington home, has pictured the Cambridges putting on an affectionate display ahead of their arrival to the public engagement yesterday morning.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have previously come under fire for being too affectionate in public, with experts claiming it doesn’t follow ‘royal precedent’ and appears unprofessional.
But Harry and Meghan’s more relaxed and personable approach to public engagements now appears to have rubbed off on the more formal royal couple, whose latest tactile display is one among a series in recent months.
It seems Kate, 37, and William, 36, may have taken a leaf out of Harry and Meghan’s book, after a behind-the-scenes video emerged today, showing the Cambridges holding hands as they boarded a helicopter to Blackpool on Wednesday
Shared by royal fan Juliana Campos from London’s Kensington Palace Gardens, the video shows the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge smiling as they stroll to a waiting helicopter behind the palace
Shared by royal fan Juliana Campos from London’s Kensington Palace Gardens, the video shows the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge smiling as they stroll to a waiting helicopter behind the palace.
Walking hand-in-hand, the display is a far cry from their usual more formal appearances- and appears to follow the newlywed Sussexes’ more affectionate mannerisms.
Etiquette expert William Hanson previously told FEMAIL that he felt it was unprofessional for royals to show affection or emotion in public.
Questioning newlywed Meghan, 37, and 34-year-old Harry’s tactile displays during their Australasia tour last October, he said: ‘There is no ‘protocol rule’ that says royalty cannot touch: just precedent and common sense.
Kate and William were headed to the seaside town on Wednesday, where they spent the day visiting a series of innovative projects focused on investment and regeneration, as well as learning how the resort is tackling some of the social and mental health problems faced by people in Britain
Pleased to meet you! Kate was all smiles as she chatted to youngsters during her away day to Blackpool with Prince William, crouching down so she could speak to them at eye level
Kate and William were headed to the seaside town, where they spent the day visiting a series of innovative projects focused on investment and regeneration, as well as learning how the resort is tackling some of the social and mental health problems faced by people in Britain
Kate and William, famously private in their displays of affection, appear to have changed their tactic with Meghan and Harry’s tactile body language appearing to have rubbed off on the more formal royal couple, whose latest tactile display, above, is one among a series in recent months
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are traditionally known for being reserved during public engagements, but this latest display of PDA is one in a stream for the royal couple in recent months. Resharing the video a fan account wrote: ‘William and Kate being cuties and holding hands on their way to their helicopter’
‘Do not forget that royal engagements are professional environments. It’s work. If Harry and Meghan were not who they are and worked for any other ‘firm’, they would not be allowed to walk down the corridors holding hands, cooing over each other.’
However just weeks later, in November, Prince William was pictured as he wrapped a protective arm around his wife during the Armistice commemorations, a dramatic departure from his traditionally more stiff public appearances.
Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Judi James said at the time: ‘Now that Meghan has joined The Firm, her own determinedly tactile behaviour with Harry does seem to have had a profound “echo” effect on William and Kate’s rituals.
‘Normally its a younger sibling that will mimic or mirror the older, but in Harry and William’s case it seems to be William taking his lead from his younger brother and his wife.’
Prince Harry and Meghan Duchess of Sussex, seen cosying up together at Wembley arena yesterday, are known for their affectionate displays in public and appear to have influenced Kate and William
Loved-up newlyweds Meghan, 37, and 34-year-old Harry’s tactile displays during their Australasia raised eyebrows among some etiquette experts who claimed it was inappropriate for royals to show emotion
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made no secret of being in the honeymoon period, with their public displays of affection seemingly rubbing off on William and Kate too (Harry and Meghan are pictured here in New South Wales, Australia on 17 October)
In November, William was pictured as he wrapped a protective arm around his wife during the Armistice commemorations, a dramatic departure from his traditionally more stiff public appearances
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are traditionally known for being reserved during public engagements, seen in Belfast last month
Judi says this could also be down to the couple not wanting to offer any hints as to the state of their marriage in the manner of William’s parents, adding: ‘Diana and Charles created a body language soap opera with some expressive displays of non-verbal behaviour.
‘William seems to have cautiously erred on the side of bland, with their total lack of PDAs meaning there have also never been signs of rifts, fallings-out or disagreements either.’
Judi added: ‘When a couple have been married several years it can often take family newlyweds like Harry and Meghan to rekindle some more public displays of romance like this’.
On Wednesday Kate and William spent a busy day in Blackpool, greeting royal fans outside the Blackpool Tower, including a group of adorable youngsters who greeted them with flowers.
The pair, sheltering under large black umbrellas, were greeted at the landmark amid the downpours with cheers from a crowd of several hundred well-wishers gathered outside on the promenade, including youngsters who charmed Kate with bunches of flowers.
As one little girl shouted ‘Hello princess’, Kate waved and smiled, and she also promised locals she would bring her three children George, Charlotte and Louis along on her next visit.
William and Kate were met by local dignitaries including the Mayor and Mayoress of Blackpool, Gary and Debbie Coleman, as they stepped inside for a briefing about the town’s investment and regeneration projects.
Once inside the historic tower, Kate and William briefly stopped at a giant mirror unveiled by the Princess of Wales in July 1992 to mark the opening of Tower World, with the duke describing it as ‘fantastic’ and ‘amazing’.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge continued their day with a visit to Blackpool Central Library, where they joined two separate discussions focusing on issues and initiatives of particular relevance to each of their ongoing charitable interests.
The Duchess met with members involved in Blackpool’s ‘A Better Start’ charity programme, including health visitors, practitioners from the Family Nurse Partnership, and parents.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were pictured speaking to children waiting in the crowds as they met members of the public on the promenade, as they visited a series of innovative projects that are focused on investment and regeneration
The couple were pictured visiting a house on Kirby Road to see some of the deprived conditions that locals are living in
The Duchess cut an elegant figure in the rain, opting for an olive £940 Sportsmax coat, a £225 Michael Kors patterned peacock dress, and a recycled green Manu Atelier bag, along with black knee-high boots as she arrived in Blackpool on Tuesday