Kate Middleton and Prince William were greeted in a regal way at a historic church service.
The Prince and Princess of Wales stepped out on Wednesday, March 25, to attend the enthronement ceremony installing Dame Sarah Mullally as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, marking the first time a woman has held the role. It’s tradition for the royal heir to attend, and William represented his father, King Charles.
Prince William, 43, and Princess Kate, 44, were greeted outside Canterbury Cathedral in Kent by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Lady Colgrain, who dipped into a curtsy as she shared a handshake with each of them, as seen in the live stream of the event.
Although Kate often allows William to go first in such greetings, she was the first to say hello to Lady Colgrain. However, it was likely for a practical reason: she was sitting on the side of the car closer to the church, while her husband had to make his way around the back of the car upon exiting.
While he is the heir to the throne, Prince William often returns the favor and plays the role of the supportive spouse, letting Princess Kate take center stage at events where she is the patron of the organization or highlighting a cause close to her heart.
“In one sense, hers and William’s was a modern royal marriage, in that it was a love match,” Sarah Gristwood, author of Elizabeth: The Queen and the Crown, previously told PEOPLE. “But in another, it has been old-fashioned. She mostly appears as a supportive figure to her husband.”
Another author agreed that Kate knows she is in a support role within the royal family while still having a voice.
“She’s never trying to outshine him in any way,” said biographer Penny Junor. “I think that Kate is a bit like Prince Philip supporting the Queen. She doesn’t outshine William but still has a lot to say herself.”
While Prince William and Princess Kate were greeted with a curtsy at the historic church service, there are no mandatory rules on how to say hello to a member of the royal family. According to their official website, if one wishes to observe “traditional forms,” men can bow from the neck, while women can curtsy. “Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way,” they add.
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Even Princess Kate, who has Her Royal Highness styling, opts to curtsy for King Charles and Queen Camilla. Just last week, during the official welcome ceremony for the Nigerian state visit, Kate greeted Camilla with a kiss on each cheek, followed by a curtsy. Meanwhile, William chose a less formal pair of cheek kisses to say hello to Camilla.
Kate also dipped into a curtsy for the King, greeting him with a smile as she appeared to tell him, “Good morning!”
The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the church service after getitng to know Mullally better during a recent meeting at Lambeth Palace in London last month.
She was named as the new Archbishop elect, succeeding Justin Welby, in October 2025 and then confirmed with her formal election in January. After the meeting, Mullally said, “I know we hold the same hope for a better world, and I look forward to working together in the years to come. I will continue to hold them and their family in my prayers,” PA reported.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has strong ties to the monarchy, and the person in the role has crowned most monarchs over the past 1,000 years. They also marry many royal couples, with Prince William and Princess Kate’s April 2011 wedding presided over by the then-Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams.
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