King Charles III seems to have abandoned a long-standing British Royal Family rule against hugging people and appears to have convinced Queen Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton to follow suit, which all may be inspired by Meghan Markle.
The Duchess of Sussex once remarked her shock that British people tend not to hug strangers or non-family members, especially the royals, but now it seems the 75-year-old reigning monarch has sided with his American daughter-in-law.
In September 2024, Charles was spotted embracing members of the New Zealand women’s rugby team on Ayesha Leti-I’iga‘s request, before he later joked he felt like he was “crushed by a scrum”.
It marked a sudden shift away from staunch tradition. For example, Queen Mary (1867-1953) once refused to meet her own son because he was dressed inappropriately, highlighting how seriously the hugging rule was taken.
Even upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, her daughter Princess Anne reportedly refused a supportive embrace from her private secretary when she received the news of the passing of the 96-year-old.
Charles inspires change in the family
Hugs from the King then followed in October 2024 when he visited Australia and the Samoa alongside his wife, who also proved she’s not above affectionate gestures with her subjects either.
This appears to have inspired a change in the British Royal Family collectively, with Kate Middleton also getting on board. The Princess of Wales is known for her love of people and when she met a cancer-struck photographer, she swept the teenager up in her arms.
Then upon announcing she had beaten the disease, the Duchess of Cambridge released a video that saw her embracing her husband and their three children throughout their home in Norfolk. It is unusual for Royals to show themselves hugging even family.
The 43-year-old then backed up this form by hugging Karen Maclean, another member of the public fighting cancer, on Christmas Day at Sandringham House.
The 73-year-old Maclean described the gesture as “surreal”.