The times, they are a-changing.
Where Kate Middleton and Prince William were once rarely seen being expressly affectionate with each other in public, images of them sharing loving gestures have become more commonplace in recent years—though not so commonplace that those moments aren't still newsworthy.
There's probably a case to be made for this being a deliberate choice, one that increases the Cambridges' relatability factor as their roles in the royal family evolve, though I'm not particularly qualified to make that case.
Back to the matter at hand: the matter of their holding hands on camera during their recent Caribbean tour (see what I did there?).
TikTok user Jimmy Rex was staying at the royal couple's hotel in the Bahamas when he spotted them in the lobby and captured a video. When posting the footage to the social media platform, he titled it the tongue-in-cheek, "Must be important people, 35 security guards with them at my hotel!" The hashtags he used in his caption confirmed that he knew perfectly well who they were, and was in fact making a joke.
In the video, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (in the yellow dress she wore on her last night in the Bahamas) are seen holding hands as they walk (presumably) out of the hotel, trailed by said security guards.
Rex calls out to them, "How you doin'?" to which the duke responds, "Hello!" The content creator then tells the duchess, "You look beautiful." She tells him, "Have a great holiday," and he returns the sentiment.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Back in 2016, royal etiquette expert Myka Meier explained to People why the Cambridges rarely held hands in public at the time (though it does sort of still stand these days). "The likely reasoning is more that while traveling on a tour such as the India trip, technically the couple are working representatives of British Monarchy," she said. "The couple are likely to show very little PDA, if any, to remain professional during their designated roles abroad." I mean, fair.
Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Bustle and Shape. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.
-
Celebrate Earth Month With Our Feel-Good Fashion Report
Your guide to being more sustainable in 2024.
By Anneliese Henderson Published
-
Anne Hathaway Details the "Gross" Audition Request She Once Endured
"Now we know better."
By Meghan De Maria Published
-
The Emotional Ending of 'Baby Reindeer,' Explained
Netflix's latest miniseries from Richard Gadd is based on the true story of the comedian and his stalker.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Prince William Makes Moving Promise About Princess Kate at His First Public Appearance Since She Revealed She Has Cancer
He also revealed his youngest child Prince Louis’ favorite sport while at the engagement.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
As He Prepares to Return to Royal Duty Tomorrow After Nearly A Month Away, Prince William Is Struggling with “Immense” Pressure, Reports Say
“There’s a lot at stake, and he does need support.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince William Single-Handedly Planned His and Kate Middleton’s Romantic Honeymoon
Kate had no idea where they were headed on their two week luxurious break from reality until after their 2011 wedding.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Meghan Markle Thinks Prince Harry Is "Making a Big Mistake" in Wanting to Reach Out to William, Kate: Source
She's worried he'll get hurt again.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Prince William and Prince George Enjoy Boys' Night Out at Soccer Game
They cheered on their team.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Prince William Steps Out at a Pub in Norfolk with Someone We, Quite Frankly, Weren’t Expecting
The Prince of Wales and his family remain in Norfolk at their country home, Anmer Hall, while the kids are on Easter break from school.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Princess Diana Would Be "Absolutely Distraught" Over the State of Prince William and Prince Harry's Relationship, Expert Claims
She wanted them to have each other's backs.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
When Their Relationship Got Serious In the 2000s, Prince William Set Kate Middleton Up With an Crisis Hotline to Call In Case of Emergency
“William decided that something had to be done to protect Kate.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published