Prince William turned down a kiss on the cheek from a royal well-wisher during a walkabout in London on Tuesday, October 14, after hosting an informal cricket match on the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.
The moment, captured on video and widely shared on social media, shows a fan tugging on the Prince of Wales's shoulder and pulling him toward her before he shakes his head in amusement and moves on to greet other members of the crowd. According to HELLO!, one social media user speculated that William responded with the words: “I don't usually do kisses.”
What happened at the Cricket on the Mall event?
The Prince of Wales, 42, joined cricketing figures including England Test captain Joe Root, former England bowler Sir James Anderson, and West Indies legend Brian Lara for the “Cricket on the Mall” event. The informal game, staged ahead of the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in Mumbai next month, drew crowds who lined the streets to meet the future King.
William took part in the match itself, first bowling slow medium deliveries to Lara, then taking the bat from the former West Indies captain, who holds the record for the highest first-class cricket score with 501 not out. HELLO! reported that the Prince swung and missed at several deliveries from Harry Brook, England's white ball captain, and former India captain Sourav Ganguly, before connecting with one shot that sailed over the heads of players from Backyard Cricket, an internet collective that promotes the sport at the grassroots level.
Lara praised the Prince's batting in remarks reported by HELLO!.
“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,” Lara said, adding that William underrates himself because he is better known as a football fan.
Why did the kiss moment go viral?
Footage of the declined kiss spread quickly online, with commenters largely sympathetic to both parties. Some wrote “Who could blame her?” while others referenced the Prince's wife, Princess Catherine, with remarks such as “He's taken, guys!”
The episode reflects how royal meet-and-greets have evolved. According to the royal family's official website, there are no obligatory codes of behavior when meeting members of the monarchy, though in formal settings men may offer a small neck bow and women a small curtsy, and many people simply prefer to shake hands. In less formal settings, royals increasingly offer hugs and selfies, as William did during Tuesday's walkabout, pausing for photographs and even FaceTime videos with fans.
Kisses remain rare. One notable exception came in September 2025, when Princess Catherine kissed her father-in-law, King Charles, on the cheek at the Duchess of Kent's funeral in a public show of support. European royal families such as Spain's tend to take a more relaxed approach, regularly greeting relatives with kisses on the cheek.
How does the event connect to the Earthshot Prize?
The cricket match served as a warm-up event for the Earthshot Prize awards, William's flagship environmental initiative, which will hold its next ceremony in Mumbai. The prize, launched in 2020, awards funding to projects working on climate and conservation solutions, and it has become the Prince's most visible contribution to sustainability policy.
Tuesday's event blended that environmental platform with cricket, a sport with deep roots across the Commonwealth, including in Namibia, where the national team has been a rising force in international T20 competitions. The presence of Backyard Cricket, a group that promotes grassroots participation, signalled the palace's interest in widening access to the game beyond elite circuits.
Among the other figures attending were Sir James Anderson, England's highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with more than 700 wickets, and BBC Radio 1 breakfast presenter Greg James, co-host of the Tailenders cricket podcast alongside Anderson and musician Felix White.
Royal protocol in a changing public sphere
The episode also illustrates the informal turn in royal public engagement. Where past generations of royals maintained strict physical distance from the public, William and Princess Catherine have embraced selfies, hugs, and casual conversation as standard practice, a shift that has drawn both praise and bemused commentary about where the boundaries should sit.
The Prince's polite refusal, delivered with a smile rather than any visible discomfort, fits that pattern: an institution modernizing its public face while keeping a few traditions intact. For observers of soft power and public institutions, the moment offers a small case study in how monarchy balances accessibility with the personal boundaries that any public figure is entitled to.
FAQ
Did Prince William refuse the kiss rudely?
No. Video shows him shaking his head in amusement before moving on to chat with other fans, and social media users who watched the clip described the exchange as lighthearted.
What are the rules for greeting a member of the royal family?
According to the royal family's website, there is no obligatory code of behavior. In formal settings men may offer a small neck bow, women a small curtsy, and many people simply shake hands. Hugs and selfies are increasingly common in informal settings.
Who joined Prince William at the cricket event?
England captain Joe Root, record-holding bowler Sir James Anderson, West Indies great Brian Lara, batter Harry Brook, former India captain Sourav Ganguly, and broadcaster Greg James all took part.