We may be more used to seeing them exchange gentle touches of affection or soft pecks, but according to a lip-reader, the Prince and Princess of Wales packed on quite the flirty chat during their royal tour of the Caribbean in 2022.
Speaking on Channel 5’s Lip-Reading the Royals: What Are They Really Saying?, Nicola Hickling said that the couple turned up the PDA while visiting Jamaica four years ago.
During an inaugural Commissioning Parade for service personnel from across the Caribbean, in Kingston, William and Kate could be seen smiling as they enjoyed a private conversation.
And according to Nicola, the subject matter appeared particularly X-rated with Catherine asking her husband if he ‘walked in on them’ – to which he reportedly replied, ‘I did, yeah’.
The future King then allegedly said: ‘I know I think everyone here is wanting to laugh.’
However, it appears the conversation turned more sultry as Kate then remarked on William’s ‘smart’ ensemble – his military regalia.
‘You do know how it makes me feel,’ she continued, according to the lip-reader. ‘I have some sweets, we can have them when we get home.’
William reportedly then said: ‘I would love something sweet.’
During an inaugural Commissioning Parade for service personnel from across the Caribbean, in Kingston, William and Kate could be seen smiling as they enjoyed a private conversation
And royal commentators couldn’t get enough of the ‘cheeky’ chat, stating that they’re ‘not talking about sweets there’.
‘That’s their love language,’ analyst Cristo Foufas shared, whereas former royal butler Grant Harrold remarked: ‘She’s paying him a wonderful compliment and saying how it makes her feel.
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‘It’s getting very heated if I can say that! Which is great, the two of them are in love – why would you not say stuff to your partner?’
And elsewhere, actress Nina Wadia found the flirty exchange a refreshing look into the Firm’s human side.
‘I love it, flirting between the royals!’ she told the programme. ‘And we finally get to see it, and it’s normal and fun.’
While ardently public displays of affection from the couple are still rare, William and Kate have certainly become more flirty over the years.
From meeting as students at St Andrews University in 2001 to becoming proud parents to three children, royal fans have delighted in the Prince and Princess of Wales’s ‘fairytale’ love story.
That said, in the early years of their marriage, the couple seemed to model themselves on the Queen and Prince Philip, who were always formal in public and were rarely seen holding hands or displaying affection.
Fast forward to the present day, however, and the couple are much more relaxed about public displays of affection (PDA).
Last year, royal fans were left swooning when the couple publicly marked Valentine’s Day for the first time by taking to X and Instagram to post an adorable picture of the couple in the grounds of the Sandringham Estate in the summer of 2024.
Speaking on Channel 5’s Lip-Reading the Royals: What Are They Really Saying?, Nicola Hickling said that the couple turned up the PDA while visiting Jamaica in 2022
Showcasing the pair’s enduring love, the photo was set against a stunning woodland backdrop and was a still taken from Kate’s deeply emotive video in which she announced she had completed her chemotherapy treatment that September.
Elsewhere, the pair travelled north of the Border in January for a two-day engagement – and snuck in numerous subtle romantic moments, from gentle touches to loving looks.
In once instance, William – ever the gentleman – helped his wife come onto the ice at the National Curling Academy in Stirling while they tried their hand at the sport, carefully guiding her and making sure she was safe.
Though they’re known for their competitive streaks, both were pictured smiling profusely at the other’s efforts as they took part.
William started confidently, with the Princess uttering words of support, saying: ‘You’re doing very well.’
Elsewhere, while Kate was undertaking a lesson in weaving tartan, her husband dutifully held her custom coat – designed by famed Savile Row tailor Chris Kerr – in the background, letting the Princess take centre stage.
And while chatting with well-wishers on a walkabout, the loved-up pair couldn’t keep their hands off one another, with William putting his arm around Kate to pose for a photo with a fan.
In October, the besotted couple also delighted royal fans as they beamed at one another during a trip to Northern Ireland.
In a particularly tender scene during the day, Kate was photographed affectionately placing her hand on William’s back before the royal couple rode in a fire truck and watched trainee firefighters take part in drills.
Then, in November, William left royal fans swooning when he was captured delicately kissing his wife’s hand when they attended the Royal Variety Performance in London.
Yet even earlier that year, the pair looked more loved up than ever when they joined King Charles and Queen Camilla at the VE Day celebrations in London – placing their hands on one another’s backs in a supportive gesture.
Meanwhile, just a month prior, the couple were captured looking lovingly at one another when they celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary during a very special visit to Scotland’s Isle of Mull.
In a mark of the momentous occasion, Kate and William also posted an incredibly romantic picture to their official Kensington Royal social media accounts which showcased the pair lovingly holding each other as they enjoyed a quiet moment at dusk in Tobermory.
And when the Prince and Princess made their first joint engagement in Wales for more than a year in February 2025, they were seen holding hands as they walked through Cardiff Central station.
Indeed, while glimpses of their affectionate relationship were rare in the years that preceded Kate’s cancer diagnosis, they were certainly monumental in their impact.
From the first time they were publicly spotted hugging during a ski trip in 2007, to a celebratory hug spotted during a triumphant sporting moment at the London 2012 Olympic Games, royal fans delighted in seeing William and Kate’s tactile side.
A decade later, the royal couple shared a particularly affectionate moment after William won a trophy at the Royal Charity Polo Cup.
At the end of the day, the pair were also seen walking with their arms affectionately wrapped around each other’s waists.
Elsewhere, in 2023, one particular moment sent royal fans wild, as Kate appeared to give her husband a gentle tap on the behind while walking the Bafta red carpet.
