Royalist were left aghast on Monday night as NBA star LeBron James flouted royal protocol and put his arm around Duchess Kate as she and Prince William took in a basketball game during their trip to NYC.
Kate and Wills met with the Cleveland forward at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn when the Cavaliers played the Brooklyn Nets and James was entrusted to present the royal couple with a customised jersey during which things got awkward.
It seems LeBron may have missed the memo about the “no touch” rule when it comes to meeting members of the royal family and placed his arm around the Duchess in the ol’ ‘grin and grip’ style whilst posing for pictures.
While James meant absolutely no offence – the NBA star who earns about $19 million per season is used to trying to make fans feel special in promo pictures – the resulting photos do depict Kate as looking somewhat uncomfortable during the encounter.
Despite the royal faux pas the royals and LeBron parted ways warmly and sporty William looked absolutely delighted to meet the four-time NBA MVP winner.
Earlier on in the evening Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton, met music royalty.
Music mogul Jay Z and his wife – who also happens to be the Queen of Pop – Beyoncé got up from their courtside seats at the basketball game to walk over and greet Kate and Wills who were sitting opposite them.
Kate, who is pregnant with a little brother or sister for Prince George, seemed genuinely starstruck during the encounter and got up from her seat to meet Beyoncé with a smile from ear to ear.
William and Jay shared a solid handshake and at one point the 45-year-old rapper also briefly broke royal protocol by placing a friendly hand on William’s back.
The New York crowd seemed to be more eager about the meeting than the game (Cavaliers won by the way, 110 – 88) with cameras swarming and minders going into a tizz trying to keep the situation under control.
Jay and LeBron aren’t the only notable people to accidentally break royal etiquette. From movie stars to politicians here are a few royal greetings that have made straitlaced royalists gasp.
It seems LeBron James may have missed the memo about the “no touch” rule when it comes to meeting members of the royal family and placed his arm around the Duchess in the ol’ ‘grin and grip’ style whilst posing for pictures.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott was left a bit red-faced when he was chastised by the British press for placing his hand on William’s back in Federal Parliament.
Former Prime Minister Paul Keating got it wrong when he wrapped his arm around the Queen in 1992.
American First Lady Michelle Obama appeared to get a reciprocated hug from the Queen in 2009 during an official trip to the palace.
While former PM John Howard denies he ever placed a hand on the Queen in 2000 this pictures shows he came mighty close.
Late actor Mickey Rooney broke royal protocol in 2007 by kissing the Queen’s hand when he met her at a garden party at the British Embassy – the Queen didn’t seem to mind.
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