Kate Middleton in New York: Basketball star breaks royal protocol and puts arm around Duchess
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are enjoying a three-day trip in the US - and met basketball star LeBron James in New York on Monday night after watching a basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The royals were presented with personalised NBA jerseys, including a teeny one for little Prince George, and were all smiles as they had photos taken with the star.
During the picture-taking, LeBron might have surprised Kate a little by breaking with royal protocol and putting his arm around her.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, etiquette expert William Hanson said: "Although I am sure the Duchess of Cambridge won't have worried about it, Mr James should not have put his arm around her."
He added: "A shower would have been preferable but he had just finished a game – so even more reason for him not have opened his pits by lifting his arm and placing it around Her Royal Highness!"
However, she took it with good grace and beamed for the cameras, making the most of the photo opportunity.
'King James' had earlier put on a show for the visiting royalty as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Brooklyn Nets 110-88 in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
LeBron James had 18 points and seven assists as he directed Cleveland's win, with Kevin Love scoring 19 and Dion Waiters bringing 26 off the bench.
William and Kate caught the final part of the game, taking their courtside seats with 7:14 remaining in the third quarter, just in time to see Cleveland pull clear to their seventh straight victory.
While at the match, Kate and Wills also bumped into Jay-Z and Beyonce, and spent a little time chatting to the pair, who some may consider as American royalty.
Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess have paid their respects to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks by visiting the New York memorial dedicated to their memory.
William and Kate began the last day of their American tour by travelling to the Manhattan site of the former World Trade Centre (WTC) twin towers attacked to devastating effect in 2011.
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