Prince William made a departure from traditional royal decorum by not bowing to Queen Camilla at her coronation, a deviation that wasn’t missed by the public.

Expert in non-verbal communication, Judi James, proposed that the Duke of Cambridge might have found it uncomfortable to display such a submissive gesture to his stepmother. She further speculated that his late mother, Princess Diana’s lingering influence could have played a role in his decision.

At a commemorative concert in Windsor on May 6, most of the royals were seated when King Charles and Queen Camilla entered. Notably, even the young Prince George and Princess Charlotte emulated their father’s stance and did not formally acknowledge Camilla, preferring instead to bow and curtsey exclusively to their grandfather, King Charles.

Kate, their mother, made a conscious decision to display respect to both the King and Queen through a curtsey.

As per royal tradition, those of lower rank should display their respect through a bow or a curtsey to higher-ranking royals. This would mean that William, as the Duke of Cambridge, should have offered such a display to Camilla.

One possibility is that Prince William had already observed this protocol earlier that day, away from public eye, and felt no need to do so again. James put forward the idea that William might have found it awkward to show such deference to the woman who now sits in the position once held by his mother. Interestingly, while he looked towards his father, he avoided eye contact with Camilla.

In contrast, Kate presented a warm and welcoming gesture towards her mother-in-law. James considered this a distinct case of selective respect, with William, George, and Charlotte choosing not to bow or curtsey to Camilla while Kate offered a deep curtsey to both Charles and Camilla, seemingly to placate following Camilla’s ascension.

James further inferred that Kate’s gesture towards Camilla was an attempt to ensure harmony within the royal family. Given that Kate may one day become Queen Consort, it’s reasonable to expect she would desire the same courtesy extended to her.