Prince William and his wife Princess Kate stole the limelight as they welcomed France's President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron upon their arrival at RAF Northolt, west of London.
The Prince and Princess of Wales had the diplomatic honour of welcoming Macron and Brigitte to the UK at the start of his state visit.
Macron stunned the onlookers as he greeted the future Queen Kate with a kiss on the hand, a rare gesture for the Princess attracted massive attention.
The gesture was undeniably charming and distinctly French, it did not breach any formal royal protocol or rules. The royal family’s official website explains that there are no strict codes of conduct for meeting royals, only suggested traditional courtesies.
"For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way," the website states.
Macron’s hand kiss was a warm, personal touch that echoes gestures made by King Charles himself. In fact, the monarch was seen greeting the first lady with the same gesture.
It's somewhat uncommon for Kate to receive a kiss on the hand, especially in public settings. While hand-kissing is a traditional gesture of respect and admiration, it is rarely observed in modern royal engagements.
The practice has largely been replaced by handshakes or cheek kisses in many European courts.
In June 2024, the King, 76, kissed Brigitte's hand as they said goodbye during following a service commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Normandy, France.
Kate looked dropped dead gorgeous in a pink Christian Dior ensemble from the French fashion house, signaling a subtle nod to France’s cultural legacy.
She paired the blush 30 Montaigne Bar Jacket from the iconic French fashion house’s 2024 collection with a hat by Jess Collett.
She also wore Princess Diana's pearl earrings and a pearl necklace from Queen Elizabeth's collection to elevate her beauty.
