The Selfie Controversy

Despite the successful start to his trip, fans quickly noticed a moment that appeared to break royal tradition. When greeting crowds upon arrival, William was seen smiling and leaning in for selfies with excited fans who had gathered to meet him.

Videos circulating on social media captured the Prince grinning as admirers turned their phones around for quick snaps. This small gesture sparked discussion, as members of the royal family have long followed a “no selfies” rule—a tradition that only recently began to soften.

Both William and Kate Middleton have been more relaxed about taking selfies, moving away from the late Queen Elizabeth II’s firm stance against them.

According to Cosmopolitan, a Reuters royal expert explained: “It’s not usually appropriate to do so. If you do want to take a photograph, ask their permission first, possibly get somebody else to take it—but it’s important to respect that person’s personal space.”

The report also recalled that Meghan Markle once told a fan during an engagement: “We’re not allowed to do selfies,” back when she was still a working royal.

Fans Delighted by the Prince’s Gesture

One lucky admirer who managed to capture a selfie with William later shared it on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“WILLIAM, YOU WERE SO AMAZING AND KIND! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR THE BEST SELFIE OF MY LIFE.”

She followed up with another post, saying:
“I couldn’t say anything to him, I was so nervous. I just said hi—he held my hand and said ‘nice to meet you,’ and then HE WAITED for me to take the selfie and put his hand on my shoulder.”

Other fans chimed in with admiration, commenting:
“He does his mother and grandparents proud,” and “He is so good. What a King he will be.”