Prince William, the President of the Football Association, was in attendance as the Lionesses secured a historic win over Germany in the Euro 2022 final, but he went against the late Queen on this outing.
Prince William has broken royal protocol (Image: Getty)
Former Royal butler Grant Harrold has disclosed that Prince William deliberately flouted Royal protocol by embracing the victors at the 2022 Euro final. The high-stakes match took place at Wembley Stadium, with William in attendance as the President of the Football Association.
The Lionesses triumphed over their longstanding adversaries, Germany, with a score of 2-1 after an intense game that extended into extra time, narrowly avoiding a penalty shootout.
Post-match, William lauded the team for their exceptional play and presented them with their well-deserved medals.
The Duke of Cambridge deviated from tradition when he hugged the players while they were on the field, reports the Express.
It’s quite uncommon to witness senior royals engaging in public displays of affection, even with their own spouses.
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Yet, according to the former butler, William intentionally disregarded these customary boundaries.
Harrold explained to OK!: “Historically, there was a rule with royals that you could look but you couldn’t touch.
“If you met a royal, you could look at them and if they offered you a handshake, you were to accept it.”
He noted that this was partly due to maintaining the family’s aura of mystery and also for security purposes.
Harrold suggests that William’s warmer approach is part of a concerted effort to present the monarchy as more relatable and signal the dawn of a new, modernized British monarchy.
According to Grant, William chose to break protocol(Image: Getty)
The royals very rarely engage in public physical affection(Image: Getty)
He remarked: “I think William and the other younger royals have realised that they can’t get away with being aloof.
“The Queen can get away with it because she’s the Queen and she’s from a different era, but the younger royals have been brought up very differently.”
Princess Diana was a trailblazer in showing public affection through physical touch.
The late Princess of Wales is widely recognized for her role in combating the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, as she openly embraced those affected by the virus and shook their hands without wearing gloves.
Princess Diana was much more affectionate than other royals(Image: Getty)
Diana’s affectionate parenting influenced William’s approach(Image: Getty)
The Princess famously declared, “HIV does not make people dangerous to know. You can shake their hands and give them a hug.
“Heaven knows they need it. What’s more, you can share their homes, their workspaces, and their playgrounds and toys.
Grant pointed out that his late mother’s actions undoubtedly shaped how William interacts with the public today.
He stated: “Diana was a hugger and I think that this physical contact and hugging people has a lot to do with how William was raised.
He further added: “It won’t feel unnatural to William – if anything, it’d feel more uncomfortable if it was just a strict handshake.
“As well as this, seeing royals hug makes them relevant and modern.”