One of the most interesting things about the British Royal Family is their often strict attitude towards tradition.
This includes walking in order of importance when in public, and arriving in places in ascending order or importance.
When greeting on another, the royals tend to bow or curtsey to one another, depending on their rank within the family.
However, this idea was turned on its head recently by Kate Middleton and the Queen and the Chelsea Flower Show.
Shocking many fans, Prince William, 37, bent to kiss his grandmother on both cheeks, and then his wife Kate Middleton did the same.
This is a rare royal sighting, have the rules had a sneaky update?
One Twitter use said: “The thing I noticed was the kiss came before the bow or curtsy. It must be how they normally do it.
“It’s like the formal part was an afterthought. I think they forgot the cameras were there.”
Another added: “Interesting kisses before courtesy. I figured it’d be more formal first.”
But one said: “No the family always do it like that. I’ve noticed that from other members of the family in the past as well.”
Of course, the Queen, as our monarch, is the one who creates royal protocol at the end of the day.
What she says goes, so perhaps this will usher in an era of less formal royal greetings in the future.
What are the rules concerning normal Britons? Contrary to popular belief, there are no hard and fast rules about how you must address the royals.
In fact, you may refer to them by first name if you wish, but they might not answer you.
The Royal Family website suggests how Britons may wish to speak to a royal, if looking to follow tradition.
The website states: “There are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting The Queen or a member of the Royal Family.”
However it describe traditional greetings for those who wish to use them.
It reads: “For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way.
“On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is ‘Your Majesty’ and subsequently ‘Ma’am,’ pronounced with a short ‘a,’ as in ‘jam’.
“For male members of the Royal Family the same rules apply, with the title used in the first instance being ‘Your Royal Highness’ and subsequently ‘Sir’.
“For other female members of the Royal Family the first address is conventionally ‘Your Royal Highness’ and subsequently ‘Ma’am’.”
Kate Middleton was last spotted at the Queen’s annual garden party which took place at Buckingham Palace in London.
How did Kate Middleton become a royal?
Early life
Kate Middleton, or Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was born on 9 January 1982 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, England.
She was born to Michael and Carole Middleton, a former flight dispatcher and air hostess. The couple founded a party supplies company, Party Pieces, in 1987 – now estimated to be worth £30 million.
Kate has a younger sister Pippa Matthews, 34, and a younger brother James Middleton, 31.
Education
Kate and her family moved to Amman, Jordan, in 1984, where the future Duchess was educated at an English-speaking nursery school.
After moving back to Berkshire the family sent Kate to private school, St Andrews School. She went on to briefly study at Downe House before moving onto Marlborough College where she boarded.
For university the young Kate attended the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. Here she was awarded an undergraduate MA (2:1 Hons) in history of art.
Relationship with Prince William
Kate met Prince William when they were both studying at St Andrews, and both living in St Salvator’s Hall. Famously, William reportedly took a fancy to Kate after she wore a see-through dress during a fashion show.
In 2003 the couple began dating and lived together during their second year of university.
The couple split in April 2007, however, in October they were back together.
Wedding
Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with his late mother Princess Diana’s engagement ring in October 2010. The couple were holidaying in Kenya at the time.
On 29 April 2011 they married at Westminster Abbey with a whopping 26 million watching the event live.
Kate wore an Alexander McQueen dress worth a reported £250,000 on the big day.
Kate assumed the title “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge” and also become the Duchess of Cambridge on the day.