Catherine, Princess of Wales broke royal protocol by greeting a group of young people. After she and Prince William arrived in Wales on Thursday, the Princess of Wales greeted a group of children with hugs.
She stopped at the Oriel Davies Gallery, an art gallery, where she spoke to several children who had been waiting outside in the rain to meet her. Middleton hugged several of them, including a little girl who clung to her wool coat.
Princess Kate thus defied an unwritten rule that for decades has sought to maintain a formal distance between the royal family and the public. Traditionally, members of the royal family avoid spontaneous physical contact, except when the greeting is initiated by them and is usually limited to a handshake. This distance has been considered part of maintaining the institutional dignity and public neutrality of the monarchy.
However, in recent years, the approach has evolved. The younger generation of the royal family has shown more emotional closeness to citizens, especially children. The embrace of a little girl who grabbed her coat was not just a spontaneous gesture, but a signal of a more human, more tangible and less ceremonial monarchy.
In this respect, Kate bears a striking resemblance to Princess Diana. Diana was known for breaking down physical and emotional barriers: she hugged children, touched AIDS patients at a time when fear and prejudice prevailed, and greeted crowds with a warmth unusual by royal standards of the time. Like Diana, Kate Middleton seems to understand the symbolic power of human contact; a hug can communicate more than a formal bow or a reserved smile.
Moreover, the comparison lies not only in the physical gesture, but also in the way she builds her public image: combining classic elegance with a gentle and approachable approach.
During the visit to Wales, Middleton again wore a burgundy double-breasted coat by Alexander McQueen, which she had previously worn in 2024 when she and Prince William hosted the Emir of Qatar at Buckingham Palace.
Her monochrome outfit also included a bow-collar blouse and pleated skirt from Co. She completed the look with leather boots in the same color and pinned a daffodil-shaped brooch to her coat collar in honor of St. David's Day, which is celebrated annually on March 1. The yellow flower symbolizes the patron saint of Wales.
Over the weekend, the Princess of Wales made a noticeable change to her auburn hair, appearing in tight curls at the 2026 BAFTA Awards. Walking the red carpet in another repurposed outfit, this time a pale purple Gucci dress that she first debuted in 2019, she replaced her soft waves with curls reminiscent of the 1980s style.
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