Prince William politely declined a kiss on the cheek from a royal well-wisher on Tuesday, October 13, during a walkabout in London after his informal cricket match on the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. The moment, captured on video, spread quickly across social media.
According to HELLO!, the Prince of Wales, 42, had joined cricketing figures including England captain Joe Root and bowler Sir James Anderson for the event, dubbed Cricket on the Mall, ahead of the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony scheduled for Mumbai next month. After the game, he greeted crowds who had lined the streets, stopping for selfies, hugs and even FaceTime calls in what onlookers described as a wave of Willsmania.
What happened when the fan tried to kiss Prince William?
One woman in the crowd tugged on the Prince's shoulder and pulled him toward her in an attempt to kiss his cheek. William, heir to the British throne, shook his head with a smile and moved on to speak with other members of the public. Social media users speculated that he responded with the words, I don't usually do kisses, though the remark has not been confirmed.
The reaction online was largely sympathetic to the Prince. One commenter wrote, Who could blame her? Another pointed to his marriage, reminding the public, He's taken, guys!
What the royal protocol actually says about kissing
The episode raises a fair question about how members of the public should behave toward the royal family. The royal family's official website makes clear that there are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting royals. In formal settings, men may offer a small neck bow from the head, while women may do a brief curtsy. A simple handshake is equally acceptable, and many people prefer it.
In less formal settings, royals may offer hugs and, in recent years, selfies. The rules of common courtesy still apply: people should wait to be introduced, and kisses remain rare. Princess Catherine gave her father-in-law, King Charles, a rare kiss on the cheek at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent in September 2025, an exception that proved the point precisely because it was unusual.
Some European royal families, notably Spain's, take a more relaxed approach and routinely greet one another with kisses on the cheek. The British court has always held to a firmer standard, and there is no good reason to abandon it.
A boundary of a different kind: William at the crease
Before the walkabout, the Prince took part in the informal match with some of cricket's biggest names. He bowled slow medium deliveries at West Indies great Brian Lara, then took the bat from the former West Indies captain, who holds the record for the highest first-class score in history, 501 not out.
William swung and missed at several deliveries from Harry Brook, England's white ball captain, and from Sourav Ganguly, before connecting with one ball and sending it over the heads of players from Backyard Cricket, an internet group that promotes the sport at the grassroots level.
Lara praised the Prince's batting and said he would pick him for his side.
I think his bowling needs a lot of work, but his batting across the line, I think he'd just be my sort of number six or number seven batter, the guy that comes in at the end, and if he hits a couple of boundaries, he hits a couple of boundaries.
Also present was Sir Jimmy Anderson, England's highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with more than 700 wickets, alongside BBC Radio 1 breakfast presenter Greg James, who co-hosts the Tailenders cricket podcast with Sir Jimmy and musician Felix White.
Why decorum still matters
For readers in Botswana and across the Commonwealth, the moment is more than a lighthearted clip. The British monarchy remains a constitutional anchor for many nations, and the conduct surrounding it reflects something larger: the difference between genuine respect and the casual familiarity that modern celebrity culture encourages.
Prince William handled the incident with good humour and grace. He did not rebuke the woman or retreat from the crowd; he simply declined, smiled and carried on. That is the correct balance. Public figures owe the public their time and warmth, but the public owes them the dignity of boundaries. A handshake, a bow, a curtsy: these are not outdated affectations but small acts of self-discipline that hold public life together.
The viral clip, and the amusement it generated, also shows the enduring affection in which the Prince is held. Crowds do not line the Mall for officials they dislike. But affection should not become entitlement. The royal family's own guidance is sensible: wait to be introduced, offer a handshake, and leave the kisses to family.
William now travels to Mumbai for the Earthshot Prize awards next month, where the focus will return to his environmental initiative and the five winning projects it rewards each year.
Frequently asked questions
Did Prince William reject the fan rudely?
No. According to HELLO!, he shook his head in amusement and moved on to greet other well-wishers, declining the kiss politely and without any sign of offence.
What did Prince William say when he declined the kiss?
Social media users speculated he said, I don't usually do kisses, though the exact words have not been officially confirmed.
Is it against royal protocol to kiss a royal family member?
There is no obligatory code, but the royal family's website states that people should wait to be introduced, and kisses are rare. Handshakes, small bows and curtseys are the accepted forms of greeting.