Meghan and Harry’s Hugs: A Royal Misunderstanding?
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have made it clear that Prince William and Kate, the Princess of Wales, didn’t exactly know how to handle the Duchess of Sussex’s habit of hugging people.
According to them, their tactile approach felt uncomfortable for the royal couple.
In a new book by royal expert Tom Quinn, these claims are brought to light once more.
Quinn, who has explored the inner workings of the Royal Family in his book Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, suggests that Meghan’s physical affection made Prince William, the heir to the throne, uneasy.
He goes on to explain that Meghan’s hugs and cheek kisses sparked gossip among the royal staff, with whispers about her supposedly flirting with William — though Quinn emphasizes that wasn’t the case.
The awkwardness of these moments, according to Quinn, only added to the tension between the brothers.
His book, which will be released on February 18, shares insights from those who have worked closely with the royal family, providing a behind-the-scenes perspective on the interactions and dynamics within the household.
Meghan’s ‘Hugging’ Manner: A Source of Tension?
When Meghan first started dating Prince Harry, William and Kate reportedly found her “delightful.
” But as time went on, tensions began to develop, particularly due to Meghan’s “warm, friendly, hug-everyone” approach.
Apparently, she would hug William nearly every time they crossed paths, which wasn’t something that sat well with him, Kate, or even Charles.
The royal family’s formality seemed to clash with Meghan’s more casual Californian style of greeting, leaving her hurt by their apparent discomfort.
Quinn points out that while the royal family tends to flinch when Meghan moves in for a hug, she was simply acting in the way she’s always known — in California, hugging is common and expected.
But as Meghan later shared in their Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, she didn’t initially realize that her affectionate greetings would be so “jarring” for many Brits.
Harry Recalls the Awkward First Meeting
Prince Harry also touched on this cultural clash in his memoir Spare, specifically recalling his first meeting between Meghan and his brother, William, and sister-in-law, Kate.
According to Harry, the interaction was “awkward,” and he remembers William “recoiling” when Meghan leaned in for a hug.
This meeting took place in late 2016 at the Kensington Palace apartment of William and Kate, just before Harry and William headed off on a shooting trip. Harry admits he was more nervous about Meghan meeting William than anyone else.
As he recalls, his brother was “dressed up” when they arrived, but when Meghan went for a hug, it caught William off guard, as he wasn’t used to such physical greetings, especially from someone he hadn’t met before.
Harry even humorously speculates that maybe William was expecting Meghan to curtsy, as that’s the expected protocol when meeting a royal for the first time, but Meghan wasn’t aware of the tradition.
Harry also recalls having to remind Meghan to curtsy to the Queen at their first meeting, but he didn’t feel the need to mention it for William, since he knew William was a fan of Suits.
The End of the First Meeting
After the initial awkwardness, the royal couple invited Harry and Meghan inside for a brief chat.
As they exchanged a few pleasantries, Kate and William’s cocker spaniel Lupo started barking, lightening the mood a bit.
When Harry and Meghan inquired about Kate, William explained she was out with their children, George and Charlotte.
After their short meeting, Meghan spent the night at Nottingham Cottage, while the brothers went on their shooting trip, leaving the tension behind them — for the moment.
In retrospect, both Harry and Meghan acknowledge that their first meeting with William and Kate was a clash of cultures, which added to the strain in the royal family’s relationships during the early stages of Meghan’s time in the UK.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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