Prince William met with French President Emmanuel Macron this week, causing royal observers to note a conspicuous departure from royal tradition.
The Prince of Wales partipating his father King Charles and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence to encounter the French leader for a state banquet during his state visit of the UK.
Macron’s three-day trip is set to finish on Thursday (10 July) following a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer about a migration agreement.
But before discussing politics, Macron was given a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle earlier this week by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Prince William decided to wear a white tie instead of the traditional Windsor uniform at the banquet, marking a departure from royal tradition.
King Charles, Prince Edward and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence all wore the traditional navy tailcoat with red facings.
A royal courtier has since asserted that Prince William’s outfit selection was completely intentional and by no means an oversight.
“His Royal Highness dressed appropriately, but does not need to match his father on all occasions,” the courtier said.
“It’s no secret that William does not feel hidebound by tradition. He respects tradition, but does not believe that we always have to follow it.”
The regalia is usually worn by senior royals at events organized at Windsor Castle, with the original design featuring gold braiding and a bicorne hat adorned with ostrich feathers.
The modern iteration is more muted, and consists of a more simple navy tailcoat and red facings.
Meanwhile, during the toast for the banquet for Macron, King Charles contemplated one thousand years of ‘shared history and culture between our two peoples’, adding: “For centuries, our citizens have respected each other, amused each other, and copied each other. We have swapped ideas, fashions and music.
“When Monet painted London’s fogs, when Jane Birkin, ‘la plus francaise des britanniques’, sang, or when Thierry Henry scored at Highbury, these were perfect combinations.”
He later mentioned his own family’s historical ties with France, describing how the Castle was begun by his ancestor William, Duke of Normandy, back in 1070.
“So it is perhaps rather appropriate that my son, the Prince of Wales, who shares that earlier William’s name, has made Windsor his home with his family, like so many of our predecessors,” he shared.
During the meal, a video was recorded and shared showing the heir to the throne sitting down while the other guests performed a standing ovation.
But it left many royal followers cluttered over the future King’s odd behaviour, with one commenting on Reddit: “Imagine if this had been one of the Sussexes?”
