Saturday February 14, Kate Middleton and Prince William surprised their admirers by revealing a new couple portrait on Instagram. A tender and sensual shot, far from official poses and formal smiles, where we see Kate Middleton tenderly nuzzling against her beloved. But what does this new closeness of the princely couple say? And why does this demonstration of intimacy disturb us so much (or even disturb some)? A psychologist enlightens us.
A rare assumed proximity
By sharing this complicit embrace, the princely couple departs considerably from protocol. They offer us a rare glimpse of their romantic bond, reminding us that behind the titles and official obligations lies above all a love story. Indeed, this proximity – almost non-existent in royal portraits – gives the monarchy a more human… and more accessible image.
“This is an extremely rare sight! Physical contact is frowned upon during public appearances by the royal family,” recalls the German media Bunte.
Darren Stanton, body language expert, goes even further: with these assumed gestures, “they are preparing to become king and queen one day“, he assures.
For their part, Internet users are very cheerful about this cliché: “beautiful couple“, “you are so beautiful and adorable together“, “wonderful photo“, “what a wonderful surprise“.
However, some also say they are “surprised” by so much spontaneity. Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist, explains to us why excess intimacy can sometimes be disturbing.
A part of persistent puritanism
Like Marc Lavoine and Adriana Karembeu who were judged “too demonstrative” during a Parisian evening, the new photo of the princely couple can, in its own way, “shock” or at least surprise.
“There is in our society a sort of permanent tension between desire and something of the order of decency, modesty… morals. On the one hand, hypersexualized images invade popular culture, on the other hand, real expressions of desire, especially between public figures in particular (but not only), often trigger unease”,
recognizes the practitioner.
The public scene also reinforces this duality. Royal figures, in particular, remain associated with a form of symbolic restraint (they embody a function, a continuity… almost an idea more than an individual). From then on, the slightest demonstration of intimacy breaks with the expected image.
“On the one hand, we want celebrities to be authentic, to appear without filter. But when they do, they are quickly caught and judged for excess passion or sensuality. This undoubtedly reflects a part of persistent puritanism, where desire is considered as something that must be domesticated, channeled into privacy, and not displayed in broad daylight. says the expert.
Does this make our society a puribulent society? Maybe not completely.
“But there is undoubtedly a form of deep unease with what is too intense, too true. A sort of fear that desire, if shown without restraint, will reveal what many prefer to keep under control or keep quiet. It is therefore not so much the desire that shocks, but rather the freedom with which some choose to express it…”, concludes the practitioner.