Kate Middleton gets cheeky wink from Emmanuel Macron at state banquet as viral moment sets Internet abuzz

WINDSOR, ENGLAND: The July 8 state banquet at Windsor Castle, held in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron's historic visit to the UK, was filled with glitz, diplomatic grace, and an unexpected moment that set social media abuzz.

In one of the most talked-about interactions of the evening, the French president was seen winking at the Princess of Wales during a toast, an exchange that was caught on camera and quickly went viral across social platforms.

The moment capped a string of warm gestures between the two, starting from the tarmac to the banquet hall.

French President Emmanuel Macron winks at Princess Kate during a toast in rare moment at state banquet

The formal gala marked the first French state visit to Britain in 17 years, and Emmanuel Macron was seated between Kate Middleton and King Charles at the elaborate banquet table inside Windsor Castle.

Cameras captured the French president offering a toast, during which he shared a fleeting wink with the Princess of Wales, a gesture that immediately became one of the most buzzed-about highlights of the event.

The 47-year-old head of state had earlier assisted Kate by pulling out her chair and waiting for her to be seated before taking his own place beside her, another sign of the cordial rapport shared during the evening. 

Emmanuel Macron’s wink at Kate Middleton sparks firestorm

The warm moments between Kate Middleton and French President Emmanuel Macron, especially the viral wink, stirred a significant reaction on X, with some interpreting it as playful diplomacy and others speculating on the French first couple’s dynamics.

One user tried to contextualize the gesture, writing, "Additionally, when a man winks at a woman, it doesn't automatically mean he's attracted to her; he may just be looking to establish a friendly or social connection with her! Damn French, we're used to winking, even at the office, I sometimes do it to emphasize a complicity in an exchange of words on a file, 'we agree!'"

Another quipped, "At last someone is showing her love."

A separate user focused on the diplomatic implications, stating, "Macron has shown the uk absolutely no respect we look weak in the eyes of the world and that why."

One simply wrote, "Yuk! I couldn’t even sit near that man."

A person wrote, "He is going to get a black eye when he gets home," possibly referring to the incident of Brigitte hitting him in the face during a visit to Vietnam. 

"Prince William should have taken him outside & taught him about behaving respectfully. I have a feeling Macron's wife will do so when she sees this," read another tweet. 

Another offered, "I think this one will become a meme and a gif."

"Oh yes, please, that was a bit inappropriate for me... Catherine is not a friend," one more wrote. 

Emmanuel Macron, Kate Middleton, and King Charles share a table as stars and leaders gather

Inside the banquet hall, King Charles, Kate Middleton, and Emmanuel Macron shared one side of the long formal table, while Prince William sat across from his wife, seated beside Brigitte Macron and Queen Camilla. The arrangement had spouses placed opposite one another, symbolizing diplomatic balance.

The guest list included a mix of political and cultural figures, with notable attendees such as Mick Jagger, Elton John and his husband David Furnish, actress Kristin Scott-Thomas, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

In his address during the dinner, King Charles highlighted the evolving relationship between France and Britain with a humorous culinary nod. "This evening, we have drunk English sparkling wine made by a French champagne house. This would have been scarcely believable to at least some of our predecessors," he said. 

President Macron, in his own toast, reinforced the need for continued unity between the two nations, stating, "On either side of the channel, there is a constant reminder that we must never lower our guard."

Emmanuel Macron greets Kate Middleton with hand kiss after Brigitte snubs him 

The cordiality began even before the royal banquet. On their arrival at Royal Air Force Northolt earlier that day, the Macrons were greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

As President Macron stepped off the aircraft, he reached out to help his wife descend, but Brigitte declined the gesture, a moment that reignited speculation about their reportedly tense relationship.

Macron then turned to Kate, taking her hand and greeting her with an air kiss. While the gesture sparked considerable online chatter, it was not against royal protocol.

The royal family’s official website clarifies that there are no mandatory rules for interacting with members of the royal family, stating, "There are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting The Queen or a member of the Royal Family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms. For men, this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way."

About a month back, Brigitte had been seen allegedly slapping her husband during a tense exchange in Vietnam, an incident partially caught on video and widely shared online. That backdrop added further intrigue to the couple’s UK appearance, particularly when contrasted with the French president's visibly lighter interaction with the Princess of Wales.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.