OOPS! President Macron’s Unexpected Gesture to Catherine After Wife’s Snub Speaks Volumes

In a moment that captured global attention, French President Emmanuel Macron’s interaction with Princess Catherine (Kate Middleton) during a state visit to the UK in July 2025 has sparked widespread discussion, particularly in light of his wife Brigitte Macron’s apparent snub. The incident, marked by a gallant air kiss to Kate’s hand and a playful wink at a state banquet, has been interpreted as a bold display of charm, contrasting sharply with tensions in Macron’s marriage. This article explores the context of the event, the body language involved, and the broader implications for both the French and British royal narratives, drawing on credible sources and critical analysis.

The Incident: A Snub and a Gesture

On July 8, 2025, President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, arrived at RAF Northolt for a three-day state visit to the UK, the first by a French president in 17 years. Prince William and Princess Kate greeted the couple on the tarmac, but the visit began with an awkward moment when Brigitte appeared to ignore Macron’s offered hand as she descended the plane’s stairs, opting instead to grip the handrail. This perceived snub, reported by outlets like GB News and The Mirror, echoed a prior incident in Hanoi, Vietnam, on May 25, 2025, where Brigitte was filmed pushing Macron’s face as they disembarked a plane, an event Macron downplayed as “joking” but which fueled speculation about marital strain.

Macron quickly pivoted to the royal hosts, warmly shaking William’s hand and delivering an “air kiss” to Kate’s hand, a gesture described as “quaintly antique” by body language expert Judi James. James noted that Kate responded with a graceful smile, navigating the potentially awkward ritual with poise despite its rarity in modern feminist contexts. Later, at a state banquet at Windsor Castle on July 8, Macron, seated between Kate and King Charles III, was caught on camera winking at the Princess of Wales during a toast, a moment that went viral on platforms like TikTok. He also pulled out Kate’s chair, reinforcing his chivalrous demeanor. These interactions, reported by People and India Today, stood in stark contrast to Brigitte’s apparent froideur, prompting headlines like “Macron’s Charm Offensive Speaks Volumes.”

Context: Macron’s Marriage and Public Perception

The backdrop to Macron’s gestures is a series of public incidents that have cast a spotlight on his marriage to Brigitte, who is 24 years his senior. The couple met when Macron was a 15-year-old student and Brigitte, then 39, was his married drama teacher, a relationship that has long invited scrutiny. Their controversial start, detailed in sources like People and Yahoo, resurfaced with the Vietnam incident, where Brigitte’s shove was interpreted by some, including a lip reader cited by Hindustan Times, as a sign of deeper tensions, with alleged remarks like “Stay away, you loser.” Macron’s office dismissed the Hanoi episode as a playful “moment of complicity,” but Brigitte’s refusal to take his arm in both Vietnam and the UK fueled speculation.

The Macrons have also faced online disinformation, including a 2022 conspiracy theory claiming Brigitte was born male, which led to a defamation lawsuit against US podcaster Candace Owens in July 2025. These narratives, amplified by Russian accounts and far-right commentators, have sought to undermine Macron’s image as a strong leader, with the Hanoi video cited as evidence of personal weakness. Macron addressed this directly, telling reporters, “People believe I’m having a fight with my wife. None of this is true. Everyone needs to calm down.”

Kate’s Poise and the Royal Response

Princess Kate’s response to Macron’s gestures was widely praised for its elegance. Judi James noted that Kate’s smile during the air kiss and wink suggested confidence and composure, especially significant given her return to public duties after completing cancer treatment in January 2025. The state banquet, attended by figures like Mick Jagger and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, was a high-profile event, and Kate’s ability to navigate Macron’s flirtatious demeanor without appearing flustered underscored her growing stature as a royal diplomat. King Charles also engaged warmly with Brigitte, kissing her hand in a reciprocal gesture, though she was seated between William and Queen Camilla, opposite her husband.

The royal family’s official website clarifies that there are no strict protocols for greeting royals, allowing for traditional gestures like hand-kisses or modern handshakes, which likely eased any potential breach of etiquette. Kate’s interactions with Macron, described as “friendly” by People, contrasted with the reported frostiness between the Macrons, highlighting her ability to maintain decorum amid diplomatic and personal complexities.

Implications for the Royal and French Narratives

Macron’s gestures toward Kate, while within protocol, have amplified speculation about his marriage, particularly in light of Brigitte’s public snubs. The viral wink and hand-kiss, coupled with the Hanoi incident, have been seized upon by media and social platforms to paint a narrative of marital discord, with commentators like Ivan Rioufol suggesting Macron “cannot even command respect from his wife.” This perception aligns with efforts to portray Macron as a weakened leader, a narrative Macron himself linked to Russian disinformation campaigns targeting his pro-Western stance.

For the British royal family, the incident reinforces Kate and William’s image as a stable, modern couple, especially amid their own challenges, including Kate’s health recovery and tensions with Queen Camilla over Forest Lodge renovations. The state visit, the first by a European leader since Brexit, underscored UK-France relations, with Charles toasting the occasion with English sparkling wine made by a French champagne house, symbolizing unity. Macron’s playful demeanor with Kate, while diplomatically harmless, risks overshadowing the visit’s substantive outcomes, such as £7.55 billion in Airbus and defense deals.

Critical Analysis: What Does It Really Mean?

The narrative of Macron’s “charm offensive” versus Brigitte’s “snub” may be overstated, driven by media sensationalism and public fascination with personal drama. The Hanoi incident, initially dismissed by the Élysée Palace as AI-generated before being confirmed as genuine, suggests a pattern of overreaction to private moments caught on camera. Macron’s insistence that he and Brigitte were “joking” aligns with their history of public affection, as seen in their 2018 and 2021 appearances at the Élysée Palace. However, the repeated imagery of Brigitte rejecting Macron’s hand suggests at least momentary tension, which media outlets have amplified into a broader crisis.

Kate’s role in this saga is largely incidental, her poised response reflecting her training as a future queen consort rather than any personal agenda. The viral nature of Macron’s wink, while charming, risks overshadowing her recovery and diplomatic efforts, reducing a significant state visit to tabloid fodder. The contrast between the Macrons’ public dynamic and the Waleses’ unity may also reflect cultural differences, with Macron’s French flamboyance clashing with British reserve, a point James hinted at in her analysis.

Conclusion

President Macron’s unexpected gestures toward Princess Kate—an air kiss, a wink, and chivalrous chair-pulling—during the July 2025 state visit have sparked intrigue, particularly against the backdrop of Brigitte Macron’s apparent snubs. While these moments speak volumes about public fascination with royal and political drama, they reveal little about substantive diplomatic relations. Kate’s graceful response underscores her readiness for her future role, while Macron’s actions, though playful, highlight ongoing scrutiny of his marriage. As the British royal family and French presidency navigate their respective challenges, this incident serves as a reminder of how fleeting gestures can dominate headlines, often at the expense of deeper truths.