During an engagement in Glasgow, Scotland on Wednesday, Prince William and Kate appeared to break a royal rule by meeting members of the public. Outside the Wheatley Group, William and Kate were greeting fans when they made the unusual move of stopping for a selfie with one delighted well-wisher.
As one woman held out her phone and switched it to selfie mode, the royals happily posed and beamed, with William, 39, even placing his arm around her shoulder for the group photo.
When out in public and in their official capacity, royals politely decline photographs with fans because they are often focused on an engagement. Only when they’ve accidentally photobombed a selfie will you see them in one.
Prince Harry, William’s brother, has previously stated that he “hates selfies.” He turned down the request of a young fan during a visit to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, explaining: “I despise selfies. Seriously, you need to break the habit; I understand you’re young, but selfies are bad. Simply take a regular photograph!”
Photo: © Getty Images
The Queen has previously stated that being confronted with a sea of people trying to take selfies with her is “disconcerting” and “strange.” The implication was that when Her Majesty makes public appearances as a guest, it is impolite for well-wishers to be looking at a screen. “She was essentially saying: ‘I miss eye contact,” said US ambassador Matthew Barzun, according to Tatler.
William and Kate were in Scotland for Mental Health Awareness Week, where they spoke about issues that are close to their hearts, such as mental health and homelessness. They saw firsthand how the Wheatley Group is changing the lives of disadvantaged or vulnerable people, including those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, an issue that has long been a focus of William’s work.
Photo: © Getty Images
They were also invited to one of Wheatley Homes Glasgow’s new-build homes, where tenant Joanne Wales lives with her four-year-old son Jason, who is the same age as Prince Louis. Jason proudly displayed his Spider-Man and Hulk toys to the Cambridges, to which Kate sweetly responded, “Louis, our little boy loves Spider-Man too.”
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