The Prince of Wales was seen warmly embracing a well-known guest, a gesture that royal watchers believe directly challenges long-standing assertions that he is uncomfortable with physical affection.
A warm greeting that sparked attention
On Thursday, the 43-year-old prince appeared alongside former England Lioness Jill Scott in a video promoting the charity Fields in Trust, released to mark the organisation’s 100-year anniversary.
In the clip, shared on the official Prince and Princess of Wales social media accounts, William greets Scott with a wide smile before pulling her into a hug.
“Morning Jill, nice to see you!” he said, adding: “It’s nice to be outside.”
The brief interaction quickly drew attention online, with many noting that it seemed to push back against claims made by the Sussexes that the future King “doesn’t hug people.”
Claims made by Meghan and Harry
The idea that Prince William is uncomfortable with hugs was first raised publicly by Meghan Markle in the couple’s 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry and Meghan.
Recalling her first meeting with William and Catherine, Meghan described her natural instinct to hug as being met with discomfort.
“Even when Will and Kate came over and I was meeting her for the first time I remember I was in ripped jeans, I was barefoot,” she said.
“Like I was a hugger, I have always been a hugger. I didn’t realise that is really jarring for a lot of Brits. I started to understand that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside.”
Prince Harry later reinforced that narrative in his 2023 memoir Spare, describing his brother’s reaction when Meghan leaned in for a hug.
“I introduced Meg, who leaned in and gave him a hug, which completely freaked him out. He recoiled.”
“Willy didn’t hug many strangers. Whereas Meg hugged most strangers.”
A pattern of public affection
While Prince William has never addressed those claims directly, he has repeatedly been photographed hugging members of the public, fellow royals, and high-profile figures over the years.
In 2022, he embraced an emotional pensioner during a visit to Scotland. Earlier this year, he accepted an impromptu hug during a walkabout in South London.
In May, he hugged a teacher recognised for her work in the deaf community. Last month, he was seen laughing and hugging Welsh woman Angela Jones during a visit to North Wales, and also warmly greeted a young footballer in Brazil with an affectionate embrace.
Online reactions reignite debate
The latest video quickly reignited debate online, with fans filling the comments section.
“Huh. I thought royals didn’t hug,” one person wrote.
“Great to see the Prince of Wales’ leadership style. Steady support and he gives hugs!” another added.
Others took a sharper tone, with one commenter saying: “Prince William is often seen in photos hugging members of the public. He sussed out Meghan Markle’s motives as soon as he’d met her so kept her at arm’s length.”
Beyond the hug: promoting green spaces
Aside from the viral moment, the video also showed William and Scott walking through a park, chatting about Scott’s childhood and the importance of access to green spaces.
They waved to children attending a local forest school and briefly joined a children’s football game.
William, who has long been involved with Fields in Trust — the only charity that legally protects parks, playgrounds, and green spaces across the UK — spoke proudly about its achievements.
“I think we can double, triple that number,” he said, referring to the 3,000 spaces already safeguarded.
The Prince took over as president of Fields in Trust from his late grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, in 2013, before handing the role to Jill Scott on July 1.
He continues to serve as the charity’s patron, a position he assumed in 2024 after succeeding the late Queen Elizabeth II, who held the role for 70 years.
