Macron stirs controversy again... Did the Queen of the Netherlands embarrass him?

A video of French President Emmanuel Macron attempting to kiss the hand of the Dutch Queen and Crown Princess during an official event has swept social media. The scene sparked a wave of sarcastic comments and criticism, with many considering it yet another embarrassing incident in the series of controversial incidents associated with him in recent years.

The sensitivity of the Dutch royal protocol In the video, Macron appears to extend his hand to kiss the hands of Queen Maxima and Princess Amalia, but the two politely step away without allowing him to do so. Commentators noted that this action constitutes a clear breach of protocol in countries such as the Netherlands and Britain, where touching or kissing the hand of royals without explicit permission is considered socially unacceptable, even if it is done out of respect.

Mixed responses and official clarifications While some activists believed that Macron likes to attract attention, even in embarrassing situations, others considered the gesture to be nothing more than a normal gesture, and that protocol dictated a simple gesture without handshaking. Media reports, however, indicated that kissing the hands of the Queen and Crown Princess was a traditional gesture, and quoted the Dutch royal family as confirming that there was no embarrassment or official refusal.

Macron's visit to the Netherlands coincided with the NATO summit hosted in The Hague on June 24 and 25, 2025, attended by thousands of military and police personnel at a cost exceeding €183 million. During the summit, he met with King Willem-Alexander and participated in an official dinner, while his wife Brigitte attended parallel cultural events with Queen Máxima.

Macron slapped by his wife It's worth noting that Macron had previously faced another embarrassing situation when his wife was seen in a video jokingly slapping him upon their arrival in Vietnam. He commented, "We argue and joke, and then it turns into a global catastrophe."