![\"hug\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/hug-1748008192408.jpg\")
Source: (L&R) BBC | PA Media<\/p>\n
(L) Prince William meets deaf teacher Wendy Daunt at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle; (R) Prince William shares an embrace with Wendy Daunt.<\/p>\n
May 25 2025, Published 1:27 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Prince William is generally known to be a stickler for royal protocol<\/a>, much like his grandmother, the late Queen. The Prince of Wales, as next in line to the throne, can hardly afford a lapse. However, during a recent investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, he shunned protocol in a rare display of emotion. Following a heartfelt conversation about his late mother, Princess Diana, William shared an embrace with teacher Wendy Daunt.<\/p>\n Article continues below advertisement<\/p>\n Wendy Daunt, a deaf teacher received a hug from Prince William after receiving her Honour at Windsor Castle. pic.twitter.com\/33hJGVRVgT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FAN of the Prince & Princess of Wales (@TribesBritannia) May 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Daunt, who\u2019s deaf and honored for her work with the deaf community, opened up about her meaningful conversation with William. She told the BBC<\/a>, \u201cI wanted to tell him how proud the deaf community was of his mother, Princess Diana. The respect for BSL that she gave, we’ve kept that all these years, and will never forget that.\u201d The teacher explained that when the Prince held out to shake his hand, she didn’t reciprocate the gesture. She added, \u201cDeaf culture is we always have a hug, so I quickly said, without thinking, ‘Can I have a hug?’ His eyes were looking from one to the other, thinking, ‘No, we’re not allowed,’ but he did.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below advertisement<\/p>\n According to Tatler,<\/a> it’s generally considered against protocol for royals to hug one another in public, let alone the people they meet at official engagements. The teacher also shared William\u2019s sweet wish for his eldest son, which touched her. She explained, \u201cPrince William did say that I could teach Prince George BSL. But I think it would be better for a younger person, a boy of his own age perhaps, to teach him football signs.\u201d If Prince George were to learn BSL (British Sign Language), he would be carrying forward the legacy<\/a> of his late grandmother, Diana. Diana had attended the British Deaf Association conference in 1992, and she came on stage to receive a book. Daunt added that when she signed the book in BSL, the deaf people in the crowd were in awe of her thoughtfulness.<\/p>\n Article continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p>\n In a way, with his recent break from protocol, William was taking a page from his late mother\u2019s book. The \u2018People\u2019s Princess\u2019 was celebrated for being tactile and friendly with the public. In 1987, Diana made a powerful statement when she visited the UK’s first HIV\/AIDS unit at London\u2019s Middlesex Hospital. During the visit, she boldly shook hands with an AIDS patient without wearing gloves<\/a>. The gesture generated headlines for its groundbreaking act at a time when stigma around the disease was rampant. <\/p>\n Article continues below advertisement<\/p>\n King Charles has also been known to occasionally shun the \u2018no-hugging\u2019 royal protocol. Tatler<\/a> reports that in September 2024, Charles met the New Zealand Women’s Rugby Team, who made an unusual request, saying, \u201cYeah, we all wanted a hug.\u201d To their shock, the monarch replied, \u201cA hug? Why not!\u201d and embraced the team. He later thanked the team for their ‘warm hug,’ which he described as ‘very healing.’ <\/p>\n\n