Prince William and Kate Middleton remain aligned in their mission to modernize the monarchy. As part of that effort, the Prince and Princess of Wales occasionally step away from long-standing traditions.

One such moment happened during Donald Trump’s recent state banquet, where the couple quietly bent a long-held royal rule. A candid photo captured them holding hands after the event—a small but meaningful break from the late Queen Elizabeth’s well-known no-PDA policy at official occasions.

Breaking Tradition with a Tender Moment

The photo, later shared on their Instagram, showed William and Kate outside Windsor Castle in the dark after the banquet. Their affectionate gesture defied the expectation that royals keep a professional distance in public as symbols of the Crown.

Royal commentator Emily Nash once explained to HELLO!: “They are almost always seen in photographs taken during official engagements, so they are at ‘work’ and it would be unprofessional to hold hands. They also need to shake hands with a huge number of people as they meet them, so aside from being on duty, it wouldn’t be very practical!”

A Long-Standing Rule Questioned

William and Kate are not the only royals to push back against this custom. In his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry expressed his frustration: “The older generation maintained a nearly zero-tolerance prohibition on all physical contact. No hugs, no kisses, no pats.