For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
It’s been a busy few days for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who have mingled with Beyonce and Jay Z , avoided hundreds of Eric Garner protests and met basketball star LeBron James.
However, James made the apparently crucial mistake of placing his arm around the Duchess when they posed for photos after his Cleveland Cavaliers, thus breaking royal protocol, which prohibits anyone from touching or kissing members of the royal family.
The Duchess dealt with James’ well-meaning move with arguable awkwardness, appearing somewhat awkward as photographers snapped away merrily.
Show all 15 1 /15In pictures: Royal visit to the USA In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Prince William and Joe Daniels, president of the 9/11 Memorial (R) look on, as Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, lays flowers at the edge of a memorial pool at the National Sept.11 Memorial in New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA The Duchess of Cambridge meets guests Amelia Salzman, Stephen J Symonds and Eric Sambol (right) former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and daughter Chelsea during a reception co-hosted by the Royal Foundation and the Clinton Foundation at British Consul General's Residence in New York to recognise the work of the wildlife conservation charity Tusk Trust, of which the Duke of Cambridge is patron, and the organisations who are partners in United For Wildlife, while the Clinton Foundation is working with other groups to tackle wildlife trafficking
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greets former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge watch the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge pose with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (2nd R), Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo (L), and Sr. Vice President, Community & Player Programs Kathleen Behrens (R) as they attend the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets NBA game at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge pose with LeBron James as they attend the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets NBA game at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, acknowledge the crowd during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers in New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Duchess of Cambridge is greeted by Beyonce and Jay-Z as they attend the NBA basketball game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Brooklyn Nets in New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Prince William talks with Jay-Z , as the Duchess of Cambridge, chats with Beyonce during an NBA basketball game
EPA
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Duchess of Cambridge wraps presents for children with volunteer Mary Dawkins at the Northside Center for Childhood Development in New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Duchess of Cambridge watches children as she visits Northside Center for Child Development in New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Kate, Duchess of Cambridge greets children and parents outside the Northside Center after her visit, in New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA New York City first lady Chirlane McCray and Duchess of Cambridge, shake hands outside the Northside Center for Child Development in New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA President Barack Obama meets with Prince William in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William arrive at The Carlyle hotel in New York
The royal couple were also presented with NBA jerseys, including one for their one-year-old son, George.
The breach of protocol recalled the moment Michelle Obama attracted attention after she put her arm around the Queen in 2009.
The royals are on a three-day trip to New York, which will also include a visit to the National September 11 Memorial Museum.
Show all 15 1 /15In pictures: Royal visit to the USA In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Prince William and Joe Daniels, president of the 9/11 Memorial (R) look on, as Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, lays flowers at the edge of a memorial pool at the National Sept.11 Memorial in New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA The Duchess of Cambridge meets guests Amelia Salzman, Stephen J Symonds and Eric Sambol (right) former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and daughter Chelsea during a reception co-hosted by the Royal Foundation and the Clinton Foundation at British Consul General's Residence in New York to recognise the work of the wildlife conservation charity Tusk Trust, of which the Duke of Cambridge is patron, and the organisations who are partners in United For Wildlife, while the Clinton Foundation is working with other groups to tackle wildlife trafficking
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greets former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge watch the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge pose with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (2nd R), Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo (L), and Sr. Vice President, Community & Player Programs Kathleen Behrens (R) as they attend the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets NBA game at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge pose with LeBron James as they attend the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets NBA game at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, acknowledge the crowd during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers in New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Duchess of Cambridge is greeted by Beyonce and Jay-Z as they attend the NBA basketball game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Brooklyn Nets in New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Prince William talks with Jay-Z , as the Duchess of Cambridge, chats with Beyonce during an NBA basketball game
EPA
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Duchess of Cambridge wraps presents for children with volunteer Mary Dawkins at the Northside Center for Childhood Development in New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Duchess of Cambridge watches children as she visits Northside Center for Child Development in New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Kate, Duchess of Cambridge greets children and parents outside the Northside Center after her visit, in New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA New York City first lady Chirlane McCray and Duchess of Cambridge, shake hands outside the Northside Center for Child Development in New York
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA President Barack Obama meets with Prince William in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington
In pictures: Royal visit to the USA USA Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William arrive at The Carlyle hotel in New York
During the mini tour, the Duchess has also met with children in Harlem, who mistook her for a princess from Disney film Frozen .
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies