Why Prince William & Kate Middleton's PDA Took a Dramatic Shift This Year

Any royal fan who saw Kate Middleton‘s video in early September announcing the end of her chemotherapy treatment noticed something different between the Princess of Wales and her husband, Prince William. The clip showed them packing on the PDA — and it wasn’t just a peck on the cheek — the duo had a few steamy moves. 

While their romantic actions might have been surprising to some, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams shared with Fox News Digital that the couple’s “private closeness and harmony” had changed after Kate’s cancer diagnosis. 

“The recent video when Catherine told us she was clear of cancer showed intimate moments between them. The royal family is not known for public displays of affection, but their body language spoke volumes,” he explained. “Catherine’s illness with William spending so much time with her will, if that is possible, draw them even closer.”

Kate noted in her video that her health scare changed her perspective on life. “This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved,” she said in the clip. Still, not everyone in the royal family was a big fan of the PDA. 

According to Daily Mail insiders, the Prince and Princess of Wales’ intimacy ruffled some feathers at the palace. “All that lying round, hugging and kissing – they’re not soppy teenagers,” a source told the media outlet. “It felt manipulative. It’s the sort of thing that Meghan would make.” Of course, the critics would drag Meghan Markle and Prince Harry into the PDA conversation, but that’s always been a part of their love language — for Kate and William, this is diverting from the norm. 

The royal insider wasn’t done with their criticism, though. “I can assure you that Charles and Camilla will not be filmed kissing each other on a beach [as William and Catherine were] until hell freezes over,” they added. “It’s distinctly un-regal.”

That doesn’t seem to faze Kate or William, who seem to be OK that “their affection is reminiscent of two teenagers in love,” according to royal expert Hilary Fordwich. She told Fox News Digital, “Their displays of public affection nowadays demonstrate they have no hesitation or reservation in letting the world know exactly how they feel about one another when they deem it appropriate to do so.” 

It’s a new chapter of love for Kate and William after a tough year.

Before you go, click here to see more photos of Prince William & Kate Middleton through the years.