Why Kate Middleton and Prince Willliam don't hold hands as photo fuels conspiracy theory

After a damning conspiracy theory gripped the internet earlier this week regarding the Wales' relationship, an expert has spoken out.

For those out of the loop, a batch of social media users used a recently-released photo of Kate and William as evidence of strife behind the scenes, alleging specifically that the Princess, 43, has issues with her husband touching her.

The image showed the couple hosting the French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte at a high-profile get-together at RAF Northolt on Tuesday (8 July), as part of the politician's state visit to the UK.

Eagle-eyed viewers noticed, however, that in the photo, Kate could be seen holding only the tip of husband's hand, sporting a rather pained expression.

Alleging trouble in paradise, one theorist hit out on Reddit: "This looks like these two are forced to be together, no chemistry at all. I have seen husband and wives in hospitals showing more feeling toward each other than these two.

Kate's expressed caused quite the stir online (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

"Maybe other photos are better, even the hand holding doesn’t seem genuine. That is my opinion."

A number of critics even compared the Kate to Melania Trump, who many theorists also believe secretly despises her husband Donald.

Photos and videos have seen the US' First Lady seemingly scoffing at the US president, as well as batting the 79-year-old's hand away during public appearances, and only allowing him to hold the tip of her right thumb attending a theatre performance last month.

Following the comparison, a number of Royal Family fans rushed to the Wales' defence, including body language expert Darren Stanton who said PDA is simply not their thing.

To be PDA is against royal protocol, says an expert (Samir Hussein/WireImage)

"Kate and William play a very important role in the Royal family now as the Prince and Princess of Wales," he told Cosmopolitan this week.

"As they are next in line to the throne and are preparing to become King and Queen themselves one day, they use and follow the traditional royal protocols of the late Queen.

"The time when we may see them showing affection would be at a more lowkey event, which could be at a charity event or a film premiere."

He added that the couple, who've been married since 2011, show their love for one another in different ways, 'with prolonged eye gazes as well as giving each other little back touches to reassure each other when they’re on an outing together'.

As we say, Stanton isn't the only person to defend the couple, as royal fans pointed out that the purpose of their hand-holding was for William, 43, to help Kate walk down the stairs.

One wrote: "They’re not walking holding hands, he’s helping her down steps in her narrow high heels."

The couple could be seen smiling happily minutes later (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Another agreed, pointing out that the Wales' could be seen happily holding onto one another in different photos minutes later.

"Yep was just about to say in the full photo he's helping her down the stairs," they wrote.