When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge left London for their official visit to Blackpool on Thursday, they did something they rarely do in front of the cameras: hold hands. The couple were spotted hand-in-hand as they walked over to their waiting helicopter inside the grounds of Kensington Palace, as seen in footage shared by Instagram user @julianacamposlondon.
While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are frequently photographed holding hands, it's unusual for William and Kate to show public displays of affection - especially when they're carrying out royal duties. This could be down to their own personal preference, but one body language expert suggests that as heir to the throne, the duke is following a precedent set by his grandmother.
'The Queen rarely holds hands with her husband in public and this seems to have set an unwritten precedent for the other royals,' Robin Kermode told The Daily Mail. 'It is very clear that William and Kate are emotionally close, however, they do not seem to feel the need to prove their love – particularly when on official state business.'
Although the Cambridges are more reserved while on duty, it's more likely for them to display their affection for one another at family events. In previous years, we've seen them hold hands on their way to the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham and most recently, the couple were seen hand-in-hand at St George's Chapel during Princess Eugenie's wedding.
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