Queen Máxima breaks royal protocol by kissing Queen Elizabeth during state visit

For those who are avid fans of the royal family, you’ll know Queen Elizabeth II is a firm believer in sticking to royal protocol.

We almost never see her show emotion in public, let alone a hug, kiss or even a PDA with Prince Phillip like the kind we’re used to seeing from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

So many royal spectators were left surprised when Queen Máxima of the Netherlands came to the UK for a state visit and greeted Her Majesty with a kiss on each cheek.

Queen Máxima, of course, curtsied in typical royal fashion to greet the monarch, but then went in for a double kiss – as did King Willem-Alexander – in true European style.

Whilst kissing the Queen doesn’t tend to be the norm, she didn’t seem to mind at all.

As the King and Queen of the Netherlands, they are of an equal rank to Queen Elizabeth, and therefore their greeting could be deemed appropriate by royal standards, according to Hello!.

Later on in the evening, the Queen attended a state banquet with King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Kate Middleton wore a blue Alexander McQueen gown and the Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara, which once belonged to Princess Diana.

The diamond and pearl headpiece dates back to 1914, when Queen Mary commissioned the piece from Garrard. It was passed down to her granddaughter, the Queen, who then gave it to Princess Diana as a wedding present in 1981.

The tiara wasn’t the only piece of jewellery of Diana’s the Duchess of Cambridge wore.

Kate teamed it with Diana’s Collingwood pearl and diamond drop earrings.

Queen Máxima also wowed in the Stuart Tiara for the dinner.

Got a story tip? Send it to tips@oath.com

Want more lifestyle and celebrity news? Follow Yahoo Lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Or sign up to our daily newsletter here.