Pool/Getty Images Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, pose with basketball player LeBron James after the game. James had his hand across Kate's shoulder, in bad taste, according to British media.
Pool/Getty Images The trio shared laughs, including over a joke about the shoe size difference between William and the NBAer.
Pool/Getty Images James gifted the royal couple a Cavaliers jersey with the name of their toddler, George, on the back and another with 'Cambridge' in adult size.
Neilson Barnard/AP It's unclear if Kate was offended or distressed by the sign of American affection.
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The King’s embrace was in bad taste.
British media was gobsmacked after the NBA’s highness, LeBron James, broke “royal protocol” by wrapping his long arm around Kate Middleton’s shoulder during a photo op following the Cleveland Cavaliers’ drubbing Monday of the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center.
Such a sign of affection is a breach of proper etiquette, declared Britain’s The Telegraph newspaper, which noted a similar royal faux pas when First Lady Michelle Obama got touchy with the Queen during a 2009 G20 summit reception in the United Kingdom.
“There are no obligatory codes of behavior when meeting The Queen or a member of the Royal Family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms,” according to a section on such matters found on the official website of the British Monarchy. “For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way.”
Protocol “prohibits anyone from touching or kissing members of the royal family,” according to the UK’s Independent.
Minutes after dropping 18 points in front of the royal couple, the 29-year-old NBA star offered up cupcakes from his hometown of Akron, Ohio, as he had a private photo session with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Still wearing a sweat-soaked Cavaliers shirt, King James wrapped his right arm around Duchess Kate while she wedged between the two men as the trio posed for photos. Prince William held aloft a mini jersey with the name of the couple’s baby, George, on the back, while Kate held one for her bearing “Cambridge” on the back.
Things were a bit awkward as Kate looked questioningly at LeBron’s half embrace, which he held for nearly 20 seconds as handlers arranged the photo.
“The Duchess of Cambridge was very graceful and smiled, even though the look on her face when LeBron James placed his arm around her shoulder speaks volumes about her discomfort of being placed in that situation," Dianne Marsch, the director of the New York Etiquette School of Manhattan, told the Daily News on Monday. "Also, Prince William looks down at the jersey, but his body language is speaking volumes of how to handle this situation politely and he even looked away at one point."
James tried to break the ice, asking the 32-year-old prince what size shoe he wears.
“Half the size of yours,” William quipped back as he pointed to LeBron’s size 15 sneakers.
James eventually dropped his hand as all three smiled for the snaps.
"We acknowledge the contribution LeBron James has made to sports, however, he is expected to educate himself according to protocol," Marsch said. "I had mentioned that the body language of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would clearly show what is acceptable behavior and no one has the right to trespass into their space."
Between the third and fourth quarters of Monday’s game, Brooklyn’s own royalty, musicians Jay Z and Beyoncé, sauntered over from their courtside seats to introduce themselves to the British royals as a packed Barclays Center crowd rose to its feet and cheered.
The foursome shook hands and chatted for about three minutes before the game resumed.
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