Even the most connected couples can feel awkward sometimes. For Prince William and his wife, Princess Catherine of Wales (still called Kate Middleton in the media), these moments are magnified a hundredfold because of the public lives of British royals.

People watch them constantly, so they’re always under the microscope. The Princess and Princess of Wales have raised eyebrows in public on more than one occasion. 

William and Kate’s body language in Poland was awkward.

In July 2017, Prince William and Kate Middleton visited Poland for five days. They brought their kids, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. On their last day in Warsaw, they went to a party for William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

After posing for photos, a photo showed the royals looking unhappy, especially Middleton. 

Body language expert Judi James says photos can sometimes capture a “flash,” where a momentary facial expression looks like it means something it doesn’t. 

Jones also said that Middleton was biting her cheek, which shows she was trying to hide her feelings. 

William tried to touch Kate during a TV interview, but it didn’t go well.

In 2019, Prince William and Kate Middleton were guests on “A Berry Royal Christmas,” a BBC holiday memorable featuring Mary Berry. At one point, the royals were seen sitting next to each other on leather chairs, with William putting his arm around his wife. 

It was quick, but people noticed. 

They ignored Swedish royals at the Royal Variety Performance. Prince William and Kate Middleton attended the 2023 Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall. Other guests at the show included Crown Princess Victoria and her husband, Prince Daniel of Sweden. Victoria is related to William because her father and William’s grandmother are cousins.

A video on the red carpet showed the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge talking to two dignitaries. Victoria and Daniel looked around as they spoke, unsure what to do. 

William and Kate were late to King Charles’ coronation.

The coronation of King Charles III took place in May 2023. Prince William and his wife played critical roles in the event.

When the big day finally came around, and they were late, it was a big deal. While their late arrival was not obvious to everyone who watched the coronation, photographers and camera crews documented it.

Kate’s shoe got stuck in a grate while she was on a military visit with William.

In 2013, Kate Middleton was still new to being a royal when she went with Prince William to meet the 1st Battalion Irish Guards on St. Patrick’s Day. While walking with her husband, she stopped suddenly because her shoes got caught on a metal grate. 

A gust of wind made things awkward for Kate at Princess Eugenie’s wedding. The wedding was on a windy day, and a gust of wind lifted Middleton’s dress well above her knees. A photographer captured the moment with a photo of Kate holding down her dress while standing on a subway grate.

William and Kate laughed at jokes about Princes Harry and Andrew at the BAFTAs. Prince William is the president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). He has held this role since 2010. His predecessor was his grandfather, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Despite being involved with the organization for a long time, William was still teased at the 2020 BAFTA Awards. Margot Robbie read a speech by Brad Pitt, her co-star, in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” “He said he’ll name this Harry because he’s excited to bring it back to the States,” Robbie said, gesturing to the award.

Rebel Wilson also made fun of the royals in her opening monologue. “It is great to be here at the Royal Palace,” she said, referring to Prince Harry. This was while Prince Andrew was in the news for some alarming accusations.

The camera then shows Prince William and Kate Middleton sitting in the audience. They look unhappy while the rest of the crowd laughs.