Prince William and Kate Middleton laugh in intimate behind-the-scenes lift photo on date night at the BAFTAs

Prince William and Princess Kate giggled as they exchanged a joke in an intimate photo taken while travelling in a lift backstage at the BAFTA Film Awards. The Prince and Princess of Wales enjoyed a royal date night at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday evening, where King Charles’ son gave a speech on stage in front of the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Emma Stone.

In a series of behind-the-scenes photos shared by Kensington Palace to mark the occasion, the couple can be seen laughing in a lift as they arrived at the star-studded ceremony. The Prince, 43, who looked dapper in a burgundy velvet jacket and black tie, presented the BAFTA fellowship award to NBCUniversal’s chair of entertainment, Dame Donna Langley.  

Meanwhile, the Princess, 44, wowed in a flowing off-shoulder multicoloured pink Gucci gown – which she had previously worn in 2019 at a V&A gala dinner – that was shown to best effect on the red carpet when the couple arrived at the event. She accessorised her dress with voluminous waves, silver drop-down earrings and an elegant clutch bag.

Ahead of the ceremony, the father of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – who has been president of BAFTA since 2010 – was asked about the film Hamnet. He admitted he hadn’t seen it, according to the BBC, explaining: “I need to be in quite a calm state and I am not at the moment. I will save it.”

© Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

However, the Princess herself revealed that she had seen the winner of the Outstanding British Film award, starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley, and it had left her in a “flood of tears”. She joked: “I thought it was a bad idea, actually. Ended up with very puffy eyes. It was so beautifully shot. The music as well. The score is fantastic.”

The presence of the couple – who were also seen taking their seats on the front row and clapping along to host Alan Cumming – came just days after the arrest of the Prince’s uncle Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. They were all smiles at the ceremony, which was the first they had attended since 2023.

© Andrew Parsons / Kensington Pala

© Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

However, body language expert Judi James told HELLO! that the family strains were evident. She said: “William and Kate delivered their usual, impeccable red carpet A-list glamour here, but there are a handful of tells that might reflect the undeniable tensions of the past week.”

James explained: “[The royals] walk side by side with their arms hanging loose at their sides, with a closeness of the dangling inner hands suggesting a desire to clasp hands here or perhaps to perform the kind of signature truncated touches, pats and strokes they often give each other to support each other at events like this.”

© Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

© Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

However, she suggested that their lack of physical touch may be a sign of the stress the royals are experiencing – and which the Prince hinted at. “Instead of touching, though, we can see the fingers of William’s right hand slightly curled so that his index finger touches his thumb, hinting at a self-soothe ritual,” she noted.