Celebrities whove broken Royal protocol including Michelle Obama and Anna Wintour

It's no secret that the Royal Family follow strict rules while interacting with the public, and it's long been believed that people must follow 'royal protocol' when meeting members of the Firm.

Various spokespeople have dismissed the existence of rules over the years, but there are known to be strict protocols when it comes to touching, talking and general decorum.

The most important rule, according to the BBC, is do not touch His or Her Majesty – you can only shake their hand if they offer it. Other rules include not turning your back, taking photos, asking personal questions or leaving an event before the monarch.

However, a number of celebrities had broken 'royal protocol' throughout the years, most notably when meeting the late Queen Elizabeth II. Let's take a look…

Michelle Obama

In 2009, Michelle Obama jetted to London to meet Her Majesty the Queen but she broke royal protocol the moment she came face-to-face with her.

Michelle, 58, placed her arm around the late monarch but surprisingly, Her Majesty reciprocated the gesture and placed her arm around the former First Lady.

Speaking about the interaction, Michelle wrote in her memoir Becoming: "Forget that she sometimes wore a diamond crown and that I’d flown to London on a presidential jet; we were two tired ladies oppressed by our shoes.

"I then did what’s instinctive to me anytime I feel connected to a new person, which is to express my feelings outwardly. I laid a hand affectionately across her shoulder."

She added: "If I hadn’t done the proper thing at Buckingham Palace, I had at least done the human thing.

"I daresay the Queen was okay with it, too, because when I touched her, she only pulled closer, resting a gloved hand lightly on the small of my back."

Anna Wintour

In February 2018, Queen Elizabeth II attended a fashion show alongside Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour.

The duo sat on the front row together and could be seen chatting away, but many were shocked to see Anna still wearing her trademark sunglasses while interacting with Her Majesty.

Etiquette expert Grant Harrold later told the Press Association: "Ms Wintour should know that to wear sunglasses when talking to another person, with no medical reason, is unacceptable.

"She should have removed them before being in the presence of the Queen, let alone in discussion."

Geri Horner

Spice Girls star Geri Horner made headlines when she patted King Charles on the bottom.

Reports at the time claimed she actually pinched his bum, but she later denied this.

Geri later told The Times: "I didn’t pinch Prince Charles’s bum, as was reported. I patted it. Patting him on the bottom was against royal protocol but we’re all human.

"It was the premiere of our film, Spice World, in the late 90s There was a lot of nervous energy – young women, happy antics."

Sir Lewis Hamilton

After he was presented with his MBE in 2009, Sir Lewis Hamilton revealed that he had broken royal protocol while attending a lunch with the Royals.

The Formula 1 star opened up about his mistake on The Graham Norton Show, saying: "I got invited to a lunch and was sitting next to The Queen.

"I was excited and started to talk to her but she said, pointing to my left, 'No, you speak that way first and I’ll speak this way and then I’ll come back to you.'"

However, after speaking to the person on her right for five minutes, the Queen returned to speak to Sir Lewis.

"She is a sweet woman and we talked about how she spends her weekends, houses and music. She is really cool," he added.

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Ed Sheeran

In 2017, Ed Sheeran was awarded an MBE at Buckingham Palace and he touched King Charles' arm as the pair shook hands.

Speaking on NBC afterwards, the singer admitted: "Apparently, I did a big faux pas, though. I shook his hand and then grabbed it and you’re not meant to do that."

LeBron James

LeBron James met Prince William and Kate Middleton in New York in 2014, with the trio posing for a photograph together backstage at Barclays Center.

LeBron placed his arm around the Princess of Wales, leaving many sure he'd broken royal protocol.

She also added: "When members of the Royal Family meet people they want them to feel as comfortable as possible. There is no such thing as Royal protocol."

Tom Hiddleston

Actor Tom Hiddleston appeared to have broken the rules in 2016 when he met Camilla BBC Radio 2's headquarters in London.

He and Chris Evans posed for a snap with the former Duchess of Cornwall, with Tom placing his arm around her.

However, a spokesperson for Clarence House denied Tom had done anything wrong, and told People in a statement: "I think she quite enjoyed it!"

They also confirmed there was no breach of protocol, merely a "warm moment" between two who "got on very well and had a very nice chat together".


This week, OK! celebrates the life of Her Majesty the Queen with a commemorative special in honour of Britain’s longest reigning monarch. Be sure to pick up your copy.

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