Prince William is currently on a five-day royal visit to Brazil to mark COP26 and the Earthshot Prize. But, despite having only been there for one day so far, he’s already packed a lot in. Since arriving, the future King has been presented with the ‘keys to Rio de Janeiro’, has played beach volleyball, and he’s taken the cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain. In amongst all that, he’s also been busy meeting royal fans in Brazil, and one of them has actually broken protocol.
In a video shared on X, a royal fan can be seen posing for a selfie with the Prince of Wales. But the interaction doesn’t end there. The fan also places their hand on the royal’s back for quite a few seconds, in a move that’s been described as “rather touchy feely”.
Previously speaking about whether or not it’s okay to touch a member of the Royal Family (spoiler: it’s not really), a royal expert told Reuters: “[It’s] best not to initiate personal physical contact with a member of the Royal Family.”
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The expert went on to explain that if physical touch is “offered” – such as a hug or an arm around the shoulder – then it is acceptable to return the gesture. “Usually [you should] wait and see what’s expected or what’s appropriate for the event,” they added.
As for whether it’s protocol to take a selfie with a royal, that’s been up for debate for many years now. Meghan Markle previously said the family are “not allowed to do selfies” – but several royals, Prince William included, have been known to do just that when meeting royal fans.
“It’s not usually appropriate to do so,” Reuters‘ royal expert said on the topic. “So if you do want to take a photograph, ask their permission first, possibly get somebody else to take a photograph, but it’s important to respect that person’s personal space.”
Of course, when meeting a royal, it’s easy to get caught up in the wonder of it all and forget these rules are in place. If that happens, there’s probably no need to worry. “You’re not going to be in trouble. There are no official legal rules in place,” the expert added. “Apologise if you feel you may have caused offense, but try not to panic, and stay calm.”
Jade Biggs (she/her) is one of Cosmopolitan UK’s freelance writers, working across all sections including entertainment, beauty, body, and sex and relationships. She previously held the position of Features Writer, covering everything from breaking news and the latest royal gossip, to the health and fitness trends taking over your TikTok feed. Jade has a degree in journalism and has been a journalist and content editor for ten years, interviewing leading researchers, high-profile influencers, and industry experts in that time. She is a cat mom to four fur babies and is obsessed with Drag Race, bottomless brunches, and wearing clothes only suitable for Bratz dolls. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
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