Princess Charlotte, 9, delighted a royal fan by taking a selfie during the annual Christmas Day walkabout at Sandringham. This signifies a shift in royal protocol, embracing the modern trend of selfies.
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Princess Charlotte smiles for a selfie with a well-wisher on Christmas Day at Sandringham.
The young princess, beaming with a sweet smile, posed for the photograph and accepted gifts like flowers and chocolates from the enthusiastic crowd, according to Hello!. This seemingly simple act represents a significant departure from traditional royal protocol, which once discouraged selfies.
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Princess Charlotte with her mother, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and brother, Prince Louis, at the Christmas Day service in Sandringham.
In recent years, the royal family has become more relaxed about selfies. Even Taylor Swift snapped a selfie with Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince William backstage at an Eras Tour concert this past summer. Prince William has also been seen taking selfies, including some in Cape Town, South Africa, while supporting his Earthshot Prize initiative.
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Prince William takes a selfie with young people during the Earthshot Prize Climate Leaders Youth Program in Cape Town, South Africa.
While the royal family’s website states there are no mandatory codes of behavior when greeting royals, it does detail traditional greetings like bowing and curtsying but remains silent on selfie etiquette. This evolving approach to interacting with the public reflects a modernization of the monarchy. Prince William and Kate Middleton have been increasingly open to posing for selfies with the public.
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Catherine, Princess of Wales, takes a selfie with a member of the public.
In contrast, the late Queen Elizabeth reportedly grew weary of walkabouts due to the overwhelming number of cell phones and the desire for photos, according to royal author Ian Lloyd. He noted that this behavior created a barrier between the Queen and the public and lamented the lack of respect compared to earlier decades.
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Queen Elizabeth II at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. The prevalence of cell phones during walkabouts reportedly concerned the late Queen.
The shift in protocol since Queen Elizabeth’s passing extends to other royals, with Princess Eugenie, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle also embracing selfies with fans. During the Christmas walkabout, Princess Charlotte, alongside her brothers, received numerous gifts from the public. Prince George even pointed out a well-wisher with chocolate for his sister. For the occasion, Charlotte wore a stylish blue coat dress with a tartan pattern, coordinating with her mother’s green ensemble. The mother and daughter duo also showcased matching looks at the Together at Christmas carol concert earlier in December.
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Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Princess Charlotte in coordinating outfits at the “Together at Christmas” carol service.
