It appears basketball star Lebron James’ impressive reach has made headlines across the pond, but not for his moves on the court.
The stretch in question occurred during a photo op with Prince William and his wife Kate at a game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers in New York Monday night.
Apparently unaware of protocol forbidding the general public from touching senior royals, LeBron extended a friendly arm around the duchess as the photos were taken.
Smiling, Kate was apparently nonplussed by the gesture.
However it didn’t go unnoticed by the careful eyes of royal watchers and the British press.
The Daily Mail noted that James “put himself in danger of being struck off the royal Christmas card list by putting his arm around the Duchess of Cambridge.”
The Telegraph noted that the move echoes a breach of protocol by U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, who “caused a stir” by putting her arm around the Queen in 2009.
“Technically you don’t put your arm around senior royals. You just don’t touch them period unless it’s to shake hands,” Canadian etiquette expert and monarchist Jay Remer told CP24.com.
Remer said the rule applies to any senior royal who carries the title of ‘Your Royal Highness.’
However he said while the incident might raise eyebrows for some royal watchers, the context makes a difference.
“It’s a basketball game. It’s not unusual in that sort of setting for it to be much more relaxed,” Remer said. “You’re in an athletic venue and not at Buckingham Palace. If this had been a photo op in formal setting this would have been absolutely inappropriate.”
However Remer said the fact that people feel comfortable approaching the couple more casually is a symptom of a friendlier approach by the royals themselves.
“I think the royals are really making an effort to be more in touch with non-royals,” he said. “I think that that all really began with Princess Diana when she started taking the boys to places like McDonalds and giving them cash to buy things. That was just unheard of a generation ago.
“I think this is just another step and not a cause for a media frenzy.”
Remer said despite the titles, the royals are still human and very nice people in his personal experience.
During the photo op, the couple was presented with a small jersey for their son, Prince George. They also sat courtside and met with pop royalty, Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
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