The German production “Nothing New in the West” gets a big hit at the British Film Awards BAFTA. On the red carpet, on the other hand, things are “very British” with an appearance by Prince William and Princess Kate. Actually. Because how the two behave does not quite correspond to custom.

The BAFTA is to the British what the Oscars are to the Americans. The trophies presented here by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts are considered to be the country’s most important film awards. Accordingly, high attendance at the event is also commonplace.

So also this year: With Prince William and Princess Kate, even the heir to the throne couple honored the ceremony in London’s Royal Festival Hall. Photos and video footage show the two walking the red carpet happily and in a good mood.

The mood was so good that Kate apparently forgot the strict etiquette of the royals for a moment and let herself be carried away to a completely improper act: she gave her husband a small and loving slap on the buttocks in front of everyone. The moment was captured in a clip that the fashion magazine “Vogue” published on its Instagram page. The video quickly became a viral hit.

The members of the British royal family usually hold back with tender gestures in public. William’s brother Harry and his wife Meghan have already broken it several times by presenting themselves holding hands. After they said goodbye to the front row of the royals, this was also interpreted as a sign of their growing distance from the royal family.

The fact that William and Kate are now showing their relaxed side in public is considered by some to be a conscious strategy. “Buckingham Palace’s PR machine has been running at full speed since the publication of Harry’s memoirs,” writes a user on Instagram with a view to Prince Harry’s biography, in which he expresses harsh criticism, not least of his brother. “The most unbelievable human interaction ever,” jokes another user. And a third comment said: “Just imagine if Meghan did that to Harry. The tabloids would go nuts.”

However, some are also almost insane when they see Kate’s robe on BAFTA night. The floor-length, one-shoulder dress was by Alexander McQueen. The 41-year-old had already worn it to the gala in 2019. It has been slightly modified for this year’s appearance.

And what else is there to report from the film award ceremony? Oh yes: The winner of the evening was “Nothing New in the West”, a German production. However, we do not know whether William and Kate have already seen them.

(This article was first published on Monday, February 20, 2023.)