Prince William and Princess Kate have been on a selfie spree lately, snapping pictures with fans and giving out hugs as they show the more relatable side of the monarchy. Even King Charles has gotten in on the hugging action lately, and while Princess Anne recently dodged a hug from Scottish rugby player Sione Tuipulotu, she finally went in for a cuddle after the team’s March 14 match against Ireland. Now, a body language expert says that Anne is helping to eliminate “some of those old, stuffy royal traditions” once held by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
In a video shared by Scottish Rugby on Instagram, the Princess Royal is seen swerving Tuipulotu’s hug on Valentine’s Day in favor of a pat on the arm. The two then shared a jokey moment on March 7 as Anne, who serves as patron of Scottish Rugby, held her arms up in a mock hug and laughed when she congratulated Sione on his win.
