The Prince and Princess of Wales joined other senior royals at Westminster Abbey for the annual Commonwealth Day service.
On March 10, 2025, King Charles III warmly embraced his eldest son, Prince William, greeting him with a kiss on the cheek. However, no such exchange took place between the monarch and Princess Catherine.
A circulating clip captures the moment, showing Charles turning his back on Catherine after greeting William. Following his interaction with his father, William proceeded to greet Queen Camilla, while the King appeared to move on, standing in line, without acknowledging his daughter-in-law.
However, Catherine appeared unbothered by Charles's actions. She maintained a warm smile and stood poised in line, ready for the start of the ceremony. Still, some viewers couldn’t help but notice the awkward exchange between Charles and Catherine, and they didn’t hold back their thoughts.
One person pointed out, "Honestly, Charles doesn't look like he even cares much for Williams [sic] greeting. That whole little moment is kinda uncomfortable to watch." Another was more direct, stating, "He totally ignored her."
This occurrence wasn't an isolated incident, according to one fan, who claimed, "This isn't the first time he has snubbed Kate Middleton." Someone else concurred, focusing on the body language, "The kings has his back turned again [sic]."And one shocked viewer wondered, "Did Charles not care to look at Catherine? Not even a blown kiss?"
Not everyone was quick to judge as one individual speculated, "Maybe he is sicker than we are allowed to know and she did not want to give him her germs. Unless the king was getting kissed by all and sundry, i think this is an indication about how sick he really is."
Last year, Catherine and Charles missed the Commonwealth Day service, a significant event in the royal calendar, after being diagnosed with cancer. This time, they were both in attendance.