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Kate Middleton and King Charles shared a warm moment as they greeted one another during a key event on the royal calendar.
At the largest gathering of senior British royals since the former Prince Andrew’s arrest last month, members of the royal family came together for the Commonwealth Day service at London’s Westminster Abbey on Monday, March 9.
Despite the recent controversy surrounding the family, the royals appeared relaxed and cordial, exchanging smiles and friendly greetings. Videos posted on social media by Daily Mail royal reporter Rebecca English captured several of these interactions.
Members of the royal family arrived separately before greeting each other inside the abbey. Prince William was seen kissing his aunt Princess Anne on the cheek and shaking hands with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
Princess Kate also greeted Sir Tim with a kiss on the cheek. English later noted on X that there was “quite a bit of joking amongst the ladies about whether they should kiss given the size of their hats. Princess Anne made clear she wasn’t even going to try.”
Instead of a cheek kiss, Kate gently placed her hand on Anne’s arm as the two shared a smile and chatted briefly.
READ MORE: Princess Kate Shines in Blue Beside Prince William at Commonwealth Day Service
King Charles, 77, and Queen Camilla, 78, were the last to arrive at the event.
Prince William, 43, was the first family member to welcome the King, greeting his father with a kiss on both cheeks. He then turned to Queen Camilla and greeted her with a kiss as well.
Princess Kate, 43, followed shortly after. After giving her father-in-law a kiss on the cheek, the Princess of Wales performed a curtsy. She then offered a second curtsy while greeting Queen Camilla.
Princess Anne, 75, also greeted the King with a subtle curtsy, briefly placing one leg behind the other as she welcomed her brother.
Once the greetings concluded, the royal family members formed a line to begin the procession, with King Charles and Queen Camilla leading the way.
Despite her own royal rank, the Princess of Wales is frequently seen performing a curtsy as a gesture of respect when greeting King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Within royal protocol, family members — even those who hold His or Her Royal Highness titles — traditionally bow or curtsy when meeting the monarch and his consort after some time apart. This custom is also followed by the King’s own children.
Traditionally, women curtsy while men offer a slight bow of the head when greeting a member of the royal family.
That said, modern etiquette allows for a more relaxed approach as well, and a simple handshake is also considered appropriate when being introduced to a royal.
The affectionate greetings between Princess Kate and King Charles reflect the close relationship they share.
The monarch once referred to Kate as “my beloved daughter-in-law” during a state banquet in Kenya in October 2023, while recalling the moment Prince William proposed to her there in 2010.
In recent years, their connection has reportedly grown even stronger after both received cancer diagnoses in 2024. Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told PEOPLE that year that King Charles “has always had a very good bond” with Kate.
“I don’t think it is presumptuous to say that she is like the daughter he never had,” she continued.
“He shares with William an impulse to protect her. They are in this together, Kate and the King.”
