Why Kate Middleton And Prince William's Holiday Walk Is Causing An Uproar

Navigating life during the COVID era has brought unprecedented pressures to everyone, even those who are considered royalty. Kate Middleton and Prince William have reportedly done their best to adhere to guidelines amidst the pandemic, but even they are not immune to scrutiny over pandemic protocols.

With coronavirus numbers soaring in Britain, many members of the royal family have been forced to forego events, and that includes canceling travel plans involving Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles. That's why a recent outing involving the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has many people raising their eyebrows, considering the two appeared to ignore rules put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus. 

According to People, Willian and Kate decided to go for a walk with their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis at the "Christmas-themed Luminate trail walk on Queen Elizabeth's Sandringham estate." That festive walkway is reportedly open to the public, but the royals behavior while spreading holiday cheer apparently had some worried they could be promoting the spread of the virus instead.

As the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three kids enjoyed the festive Luminate trail, they met up with Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, along with their two children, Lady Louise and Viscount Severn, People reported. Photographs of the two families congregating on the trail were released by the Daily Mail. Here's the rub:  The nine of them walking together is a violation of the government's "Rule of Six," which states that no more than six people from different households should meet up in order to help thwart the spread of the coronavirus.

One onlooker told the Daily Mail that they felt the royals flagrantly broke the social distancing guidelines. "I couldn't help thinking that it was one rule for them and another for the rest of us. It was really quite blatant," they said.

Royal sources claim the meeting was purely coincidental, telling the Daily Mail: "The two families were given separate consecutive slots to visit the trail just before it opened to the general public ... As anyone with young children will know, there were moments on the 90-minute walk where it was difficult to keep the two family groups apart, particularly at bottlenecks on the trail."

That chance encounter could be the last time Kate Middleton and Prince William meet with anyone else for the holidays, as they reportedly plan to spend the time alone.