Prince William’s ‘adorable gesture’ to Princess Charlotte in TikTok video delights royal fans

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were joined by Princess Charlotte for her first solo public appearance at the Commonwealth Games this week

Prince William’s ‘adorable gesture’ to Princess Charlotte in TikTok video delights royal fans
(Image credit: Getty)

Prince William and Kate Middleton's 'reassuring' gestures to Princess Charlotte in a new video from the Commonwealth Games 2022 have earned them parenting kudos from royal fans. 


Prince William's supportive gesture to Princess Charlotte in a new video from the Commonwealth Games 2022 has left royal fans impressed by his parenting skills. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Birmingham on Tuesday, where they supported swimmers in the men's 1,500m freestyle heats and met with the event's athletes and organizers. 

The A-list couple was joined by their eight-year-old daughter, whose attendance at the race marked her first ever public engagement without her two brothers, Prince George and Prince Louis. The debut appearance was met by widespread frenzy from fans, with Princess Charlotte's cheeky faces quickly going viral online. Many royal followers were also quick to point out the regal schoolgirl's resemblance to her great-grandmother, the Queen, at the exciting event. 

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge smiling during a visit to SportsAid House at the 2022 Commonwealth Games on August 02, 2022 in Birmingham, England. The Duchess became the Patron of SportsAid in 2013, Team England Futures programme is a partnership between SportsAid, Sport England and Commonwealth Games England which will see around 1,000 talented young athletes and aspiring support staff given the opportunity to attend the Games and take a first-hand look behind-the-scenes.

(Image credit: Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty Images)

After the race, the Cambridges headed to Birmingham University to visit SportsAid, a charity that "enriches the lives of talented young athletes by recognising and nurturing their abilities through and beyond sport." 

Princess Charlotte flexed her people skills at meet-and-greet event, shaking hands with athletes and placing a medal on the organization's medal board. 

Seemingly conscious of how daunting the spotlight can be, William and Kate stood behind their daughter for the entire exchange. They also appeared to comfort her with nurturing gestures as she answered questions about her favorite sports, with the duke even patting her hair protectively at one point. 

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Kate Middleton also chimed in to ease the pressure on her timid daughter, answering some of the interviewee's questions on Charlotte's behalf at one point. 

After the sweet tot revealed her favorite activity to be gymnastics, the duchess interjected to say, "Yeah, Charlotte spends most of her time upside down. Either handstands or cartwheels." 

Fans have been quick to commend William and Kate for their supportive parenting style in the TikTok video, with many flooding the comment section to share their gushing reactions. 

"I love how they love her with the pats," one person wrote, prompting another royal fan to remark, "Probably reassuring her too." 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.

Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.