It’s happened to the best of us — you go in for the handshake only to be completely ignored and forced to pretend you were just adjusting your hair.
On Tuesday night, the Duchess of Cambridge proved that even royalty is not immune to this awkward social faux pas.
Kate was presenting British Olympian Jessica Ennis with her prize at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards when she extended her hand to give Jessica a congratulatory shake.
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But instead of clasping the royal hand and wringing it with sheer delight — as many a Kate fan would undoubtedly do — Jessica accidently ignored the duchess, walking away leaving Kate to uncomfortably lower her hand.
It’s not the first time a Queen-to-be has been taped in an awkward social situation. Earlier this year, Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary was caught on camera covering her cleavage after a dignitary was seen shamelessly staring at her chest.