Royal fans were left puzzled during the UK’s official reception of French President Emmanuel Macron, as the staging of Prince William and Kate Middleton appeared unusually off-center. The visit, which kicked off with warm greetings at RAF Northolt, saw the Prince and Princess of Wales escort President Macron and his wife Brigitte to Windsor Castle for a formal welcome alongside King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla.
The event featured a traditional Guard of Honour review, complete with mounted military guards, but it was the arrangement of the key figures that caught fans’ attention. King Charles, Queen Camilla, President Macron, and Brigitte were seated prominently on an elevated dais beneath a canopy, while William and Kate stood noticeably to the side.
Social media quickly reacted, with one royal fan lamenting, “Who thought it was a good idea to place OUR Prince and Princess of Wales offstage like this? The optics are terrible.” Others chimed in with comments like, “It doesn’t look right,” and “Very awkward. They could have been positioned on the stage behind, and it would have looked better.”
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Comparisons to earlier visits fueled further debate—one observer recalled, “On previous state visits, like the South Korean visit, they were all on the stage together, weren’t they?”
However, some followers pointed to strict royal protocol as the reason behind the arrangement. According to protocol experts, the monarch and visiting head of state naturally occupy the central positions in formal ceremonies, reflecting their senior ranks. Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales, important yet junior figures, are positioned slightly aside to honor this hierarchy.
As one royal commentator explained on social media: “King Charles and Queen Camilla, with President Macron and his wife, are the principal hosts and guests, which is why they sit under the awning. William and Catherine’s placement symbolizes their supportive roles, consistent with royal tradition. They led the welcome at the airport, but during the ceremony, precedence is strictly observed.”
The high point of Macron’s state visit was the glamorous state banquet at Windsor Castle, marking Kate Middleton’s first such attendance in two years. Wearing a stunning red, caped-back Sarah Burton gown for Givenchy paired with the iconic Lover’s Knot tiara, the Princess of Wales dazzled alongside the royal family and approximately 160 guests at the white-tie dinner.
Ahead of the dinner, Prince William and Kate shared a photo on social media, captioning it: “Ready for what promises to be a wonderful State Banquet this evening in Windsor,” hinting at the evening’s elegance and significance.