A Canadian official broke royal protocol by helping the Queen

Oops.

Words by Jadie Troy-Pryde

The royals have been very busy over the last few weeks, with Prince Harry awarded his first official role during a state visit and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on tour in Europe with Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

The Queen has also been busy, hosting an opulent state banquet for Queen Letizia of Spain and giving the Spanish royals a place to stay at Buckingham Palace.

Elizabeth II was also at an official engagement this week, attending Canada House in London in honour of the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. But it's the actions of one Canadian Governor that has everyone talking today.

The country's Governor General, David Johnston, decided to help the 91-year-old monarch down some steps by gently holding her elbow to ensure she didn't fall. However, by touching the Queen, he breached royal protocol.

Explaining his actions, he told Canada's CBC News: 'Well I'm certainly conscious of the protocol. I just was anxious to be sure that there was no stumbling on the steps.

'It's a little bit awkward, that decent from Canada House to Trafalgar Square, and there was a carpet that was a little slippy, and so I thought perhaps it was appropriate to breach protocol just to be sure that there was no stumble.'

Although it is not a strict law, the royal website state there are 'no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting the Queen or a member of the Royal Family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms.'

Considering it was a sweet and kind gesture, we're going to put it out there and say that the Queen was absolutely fine with it.

The people in background of the photo, however, may feel differently.