Prince William made a departure from traditional royal protocol by not bowing to Queen Camilla at her coronation, a deviation that wasn’t missed by the public.
Non-verbal communication expert Judi James speculated that the Duke of Cambridge might have felt uneasy displaying such a subservient action towards his stepmother. James also suggested that his late mother Princess Diana’s enduring influence might have impacted his choice.
During a commemorative concert at Windsor on May 6, most royals were seated when King Charles and Queen Camilla made their entrance. Interestingly, young Prince George and Princess Charlotte also did not formally recognize Camilla, choosing to bow and curtsy exclusively to their grandfather, King Charles, mirroring their father’s behavior.
Meanwhile, their mother, Kate, consciously chose to honor both the King and Queen with a curtsy.
According to royal customs, lower-ranking royals are expected to show respect to those of higher rank with a bow or curtsy, meaning that Prince William, as the Duke of Cambridge, should have shown this courtesy to Camilla.
It’s possible that Prince William had already fulfilled this protocol privately earlier in the day and saw no need for a public display. James proposed that William might have felt uncomfortable displaying such deference to the woman occupying his mother’s former position, as he averted eye contact with Camilla while acknowledging his father.
In contrast, Kate demonstrated a friendly gesture towards her mother-in-law. James described this as a clear case of selective respect, with William, George, and Charlotte choosing not to acknowledge Camilla, while Kate offered a deep curtsy to both Charles and Camilla, seemingly in an effort to smooth things over following Camilla’s ascension.
James further deduced that Kate’s act was an effort to maintain unity within the royal family. Considering that Kate may one day be Queen Consort, it is logical that she would hope for the same respect to be shown to her.
