A heartwarming moment during a walkabout in Scotland, Prince William broke royal protocol to embrace an elderly man who was overcome with emotion
During his visit to Scotland yesterday, Prince William broke the royal protocol by foregoing formality and sharing a heartwarming embrace with an emotional royal fan who happened to be his namesake.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greeted royal fans in Kennishead, Glasgow, yesterday as they began the first of their two-day tour of the country.
During their visit, the couple saw firsthand how the Wheatley Group is transforming the lives of disadvantaged or vulnerable people, including those at risk of homelessness.
After the visit, William, 39, shared an affectionate hug with local resident William Burns, 66, who was overcome with emotion as he embraced the future king.
The protocol surrounding touching the Royal Family has historically been so strict that even a well-meaning dignitary’s hand on the back was enough to cause outrage.
While previous generations of royals may have seen a lack of contact as a way to communicate a higher status, the Duke and Duchess appear to be attempting to be more approachable.
There are no mandatory codes of behavior when meeting a member of the Royal Family, but many people choose to follow tradition and bow or curtsy.
The Duke broke royal protocol in a tender moment that echoed his late mother Princess Diana’s tactile nature.
During the visit, the Duke and Duchess appear to have put on their best charm offensive, with Kate, 40, seen beaming as she cuddled up and cooed with newborns.
During their casual engagements, William appeared playful as he played with children before the royal couple posed for selfies with locals.
Their new relaxed attitude could also be part of an effort to modernize the Royal Family following their trip to Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, which was marred by public relations gaffes and protests.
In fact, royal sources recently claimed that, following the tour, the couple wants to be known by their first names rather than their titles and is considering abandoning bows and curtsies.
According to a royal source, ‘the general consensus was that the tour seemed out of date, out of touch, too formal and stuffy.’
‘It’s more “Wills and Kate” now, rather than the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge… “Just call me Wills” type of thing.
‘They want to avoid public bows and curtsies, be more approachable, less formal, less stuffy, and break away from a lot of tradition in order to focus on a modern monarchy.’
The announcement comes as the Queen continues to slim down the Monarchy, with the Palace announcing that only senior Royals, excluding Prince Harry, Meghan, and Prince Andrew, will be on the palace balcony for the showpiece Platinum Jubilee celebration.
Wheatley Homes is Scotland’s leading housing, care, and property-management group, with the goal of combating homelessness and assisting vulnerable tenants during the current cost-of-living crisis.
During their visit, the royal couple met Wheatley Homes Glasgow tenant Joanne Wales, 31, who welcomed Their Royal Highnesses by opening the front door of her new-build home.
Inside, they met Jason, four, and heard from Joanne about how the energy-efficient house design is assisting her in lowering her energy bills.
‘With four young children, energy bills are a major concern,’ Joanne explained. ‘There is always a need for new shoes or clothing.’
‘I met with the energy advice team, and they gave me excellent advice on how to use my electricity to reduce my bills.’ In my new home, I don’t need to turn on the heat as much during the day. It’s made a significant difference.’
They were introduced to Wheatley Group Chief Executive Martin Armstrong, Wheatley Group Chair Jo Armstrong, and Wheatley Homes Glasgow tenant Chair Bernadette Hewitt.
‘We were delighted to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and show them how Wheatley Group is ‘Making Homes and Lives Better,’ said Wheatley Group Chair Jo Armstrong.
