Prince William Disproves Prince Harry and Meghan’s Claim About Something He Doesn’t Ever Do While in Brazil
Since Buckingham Palace’s mantra is “never complain, never explain,” members of the royal family rarely hit back when people verbally attack them or the institution. However, something they can do that has been effective in the past is let their actions speak louder than words.
After Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their roles as working royals, the two aired out the family’s dirty laundry during a televised special with Oprah Winfrey. The Sussexes continued firing verbal grenades at the royals in the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan and the duke’s memoir Spare.
Now, Prince William is debunking one claim the couple pushed about him and his wife, the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton), during his trip to Brazil.
William was seen doing exactly what his brother and sister-in-law said he doesn’t do
In the second episode of Meghan and Harry’s Netflix docuseries, the duchess talked about meeting William and Kate for the first time and them not wanting to hug her.
“I was a hugger, always been a hugger. I didn’t realize that is really jarring for a lot of Brits,” the former Suits star said. “I guess I’d start to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside. There is a forward-facing way of being, and then you close the door and you relax now. But that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me.”
In Spare, Harry backed up his wife’s story and shared tidbits of Meghan’s first encounter with his brother, claiming that the future king “recoiled” when the duchess went in for a hug. The duke explained, “Willy didn’t hug many strangers. Whereas Meg hugged most strangers.”
Despite the Sussexes’ claims that the Prince of Wales doesn’t hug people, he was seen doing exactly that while in Brazil.
William is in the country for several engagements leading up to his Earthshot Prize. He participated in drills and spoke with the youngsters who are part of Terra FC (Earth FC). After showing off his soccer skills and chatting with the children, William was seen sharing hugs with several of them.
William ‘breaks tradition’ during engagement
An expert analyzed how the Prince of Wales interacted with others during his trip and pointed out the way William handles engagements these days and how that’s quite different from how the older generations of royals did.
Darren Stanton is a body language and behavioral expert with a degree in psychology. He previously worked as a police officer and used his expertise to uncover the truth when interviewing hundreds of suspects. He later moved into media and TV as a consultant and has been dubbed the “Human Lie Detector.”
Speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, Stanton told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “Prince William was in his element – relaxed, approachable, and clearly enjoying every moment of connecting with the public. His body language spoke volumes: open-palmed gestures, warm smiles, and constant handshakes that signalled authenticity and ease. Unlike the late Queen Elizabeth II, who adhered to a more formal protocol, William broke through tradition with hugs, selfies, and genuine interaction.
“At one point, a member of the crowd shook his hand and placed a hand on William’s arm — a spontaneous gesture of admiration that perfectly captured the affection people feel for him. The atmosphere was one of elation and respect. The prince appeared genuinely joyful throughout the visit, taking time to engage rather than rushing through the crowds. Many had waited for hours, and William made sure their patience was rewarded. His visit showed a modern royal open, honest, and deeply connected to the people around him.”
Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges that conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.
