Kate Middleton Gets a Cheeky Wink From Emmanuel Macron at Banquet

Princess Kate Middleton and French President Emmanuel Macron shared a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment at the state banquet.

While at the Tuesday, July 8, event held at Windsor Castle, Macron, 47, was seen winking at Kate, 43. The pair were seated next to each other at the state banquet and were spotted clinking their glasses and talking while enjoying dinner.

Kate wore a caped red dress designed by Sarah Burton, pairing the look with earrings from the late Queen Elizabeth’s collection and the Queen Mary‘s Lover’s Knot Tiara. Prince William, for his part, donned a tux with royal regalia.

Ahead of the event, Kate and William, 43, were seen greeting the French president and his wife, Brigitte Macron, at Windsor Castle. Eagle-eyed fans noticed that Kate and William even shared a subtle PDA moment when she rested her hand on his back. Emmanuel and Brigitte’s trip on Tuesday marks the first time France has made a U.K. state visit in 17 years.

Kate Middleton and Emmanuel Macron Ludovic MARIN / POOL / AFP

It was confirmed earlier this month that Kate would be joining William to welcome Emmanuel after skipping other public appearances. In June, Kate pulled out of a scheduled outing at the Royal Ascot and left William, King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, as the only royals in attendance.

Prince William and Princess Kate Chris Jackson/Getty Images

After skipping the Royal Ascot, Kate opened up about navigating her life after battling cancer. (Kate confirmed she had been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer in March 2024 and would be stepping back from royal duties. In January, Kate declared via social media that she is officially in remission.)

Kate Middleton to Join Prince William for Visit From French President

“You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment. Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal,’ but actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult,” Kate said on Wednesday, July 2, while speaking to patients and staff at the Colchester Hospital in Essex.

She continued, “You’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to. Someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment, I think is really valuable.”

Kate noted that it “takes time” to find a “new normal” once treatments are completed. “It’s a roller-coaster, it’s not smooth, like you expect it to be,” she said. “But the reality is you go through hard times.”