The royal family is known for adhering to strict rules. However, Queen Camilla, 77, was spotted breaking one of these protocols while on a tour of Australia and Samoa with King Charles.
While visiting St. Thomas’s Anglican Church in Sydney on October 20, 2024, the Queen Consort took selfies with the crowd—a move that caught the attention of many.
There are no obligatory codes of behavior when meeting a member of the royal family, but tradition still holds strong. For men, a simple neck bow is customary, while women may offer a small curtsy. Others opt for a handshake.
Though not officially banned, selfies have long been discouraged by the royal family. “Royals would always rather have a personal interaction than have people clamoring for selfies.”, CCN Royal Commentator Victoria Arbiter explains.
Additionally, Victoria pointed out the potential pitfalls of granting selfie requests. “If you grant one, then it quickly becomes overwhelming,” she noted.
Security concerns also come into play, due to the proximity required for a selfie.
However, there is no hard-and-fast rule against selfies. Royals have a tendency to handle each situation as it comes. Still, there are exceptions in special cases, such as when a sick child requests one during a hospital visit.
But during walkabouts, where royals greet large public crowds, they usually avoid selfies to keep things moving smoothly. Queen Camilla decided to take selfies during her recent tour of Australia, which wasn’t just a spontaneous gesture. Instead it highlighted a shift in how some members of the royal family are embracing modern fan interactions.
Yet, Camilla isn’t the only one bending the rules. Back in March 2024, during an official royal duty, Prince William paused to take a selfie with a fan.
The moment was captured on video and royal correspondent Richard Palmer shared it on X. In the post, Richard’s caption reflected the evolving attitude towards selfies.
When selfies first became a thing, members of the Royal Family hated them. The late Queen also got fed up with mobile phones interfering with how she met the public. But William and others now embrace them. Here he is posing for a selfie with Leigh Stinchcombe, 33, in Sheffield. pic.twitter.com/UOjQCjp3Mp
— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) March 19, 2024
“When selfies first became a thing, members of the Royal Family hated them. The late Queen also got fed up with mobile phones interfering with how she met the public. But William and others now embrace them. Here he is posing for a selfie with Leigh Stinchcombe, 33, in Sheffield.”, he wrote.
Moreover, in June, and William was back in selfie mode. During Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour stop in London, the Prince and his children posed for a selfie with the singer and her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce.
Much like Prince William’s recent selfie moments, Queen Camilla’s interactions with fans during their six-day tour marks a shift in how the royal family adapts to modern public interactions. It was also the royal couple’s first visit to the region since Charles ascended the throne.
