French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, touched down in the UK on Tuesday for the start of their three-day state visit—marked by tradition, diplomacy, and no shortage of royal formality.
That evening, the royal family hosted the French guests at a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle, with King Charles and Queen Camilla leading the welcome. It also marked Kate Middleton’s first appearance at a state banquet in two years, drawing immediate praise for her return to the spotlight.
But while much of the press attention focused on Kate’s grace and elegance, social media users had their eyes on someone else: Prince William.
A video clip taken during the dinner began circulating online showing the Prince of Wales sitting silently while the rest of the banquet guests stood and applauded following his father’s speech. His stillness — as others gave what appeared to be a standing ovation — sparked questions and speculation online.
Internet users question William’s silent moment
King Charles’ toast was a mix of history, humour, and homage. He highlighted the cultural links between the UK and France, referencing everyone from Claude Monet and Jane Birkin to footballer Thierry Henry. The monarch also drew a family connection between the royal residence and French history, noting that Windsor Castle was originally begun by William the Conqueror, a duke of Normandy. He playfully noted that his son — “who shares that earlier William’s name” — now calls Windsor home with his family.
As the speech concluded with a hopeful message about the future of Anglo-French relations, the room reportedly broke into applause.
Except, apparently, for William.
William 😭😭😭😭😂 pic.twitter.com/AKvqALqMnt
— Haya.🤍🪞W|C fan acc (@itsme_haya0) July 8, 2025
The brief footage, which shows the Prince remaining seated at a long table while others around him rise and clap, quickly made its way onto platforms like Reddit, where it prompted a flurry of commentary.
“I’d really love to know what William was thinking here,” one user posted. “Everyone is standing and applauding… except him.”
Another wrote, “If this had been Harry or Meghan, it would be on every front page.”
I’d really love to know what William was thinking here…
byu/Panzarita inKateMiddletonMissing
Some questioned whether it was a misunderstanding or if William was simply slow to react. “It’s just odd. Everyone else is up, even those further down the table,” said one commenter. “He looks completely disconnected.”
Others speculated about his emotional state, with one user noting: “He looks like he’s about to cry. Something’s off.”
No formal explanation has been offered, and there’s no indication that anything was amiss during the evening itself. Still, in the age of social media, even a few seconds of stillness can be enough to set off days of speculation — particularly when it involves a future king.