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Princess Anne Made a Telling Gesture During an Awkward Moment — and People are Loving It

Long known as the royal family's hardest-working member, Princess Anne pairs her sharp wit with a no-nonsense approach, embodying that reputation at the Six Nations match at Murrayfield Stadium on February 14. As patron of the Scottish Rugby Union, she stepped onto the pitch to present the winning captain with the trophy, unaware of the awkward moment awaiting her. When the over-enthusiastic skipper leaned in for a hug, she smoothly deflected, offering a polite non-verbal warning to maintain protocol with effortless professionalism.

After Scotland's triumphant 31–20 victory over England, the Princess Royal stepped forward to present the Calcutta Cup to Sione Tuipulotu. As the elated captain leaned in for a hug, she gently stepped back, lightly stroking his shoulders as a warning before striking up a light-hearted exchange. The moment, captured in a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), highlighted her instinctive adherence to royal protocol and commitment to her duty. For those unversed, members of the Firm are forbidden from engaging in overly tactile gestures like hugging, maintaining a measured formality during official engagements.

Weighing in on the humorous moment, body language expert Darren Stanton opined that Anne dealt with the situation well, saying she might've found it "amusing and funny." He told the Scottish Daily Express, "The captain is caught up in the dopamine and adrenaline rush in the situation. He goes in for the big hug, and there's a point when she doesn't want it, but did find it funny." Speaking highly of her smart reflexes, he added, "She [Anne] was not offended by him, but by tapping him on the shoulder she signalled 'That's far enough.' Anne has a great sense of humor and was amused and flattered in a way by the fact that he tried to go in for a proper bear hug."

Meanwhile, Anne's meaningful appearance at the match was marked by yet another awkward moment. During the team introductions, as she greeted England prop Joe Heyes, she mistakenly referred to him as retired star Joe Marler, prompting smiles and laughs. Her innocent slip, however, was taken in good spirit, with Marler later joking about it publicly. Dressed smartly for the chilly Edinburgh afternoon, the Princess Royal appeared relaxed and engaged, chatting warmly with players while carrying out her duties with her signature efficiency.

While the Princess Royal remained a stickler for royal protocol, her brother, King Charles, has not paid much heed to it, choosing warmth over tradition. This was evident during a September 2024 reception at Buckingham Palace, where he met with players from the Black Ferns rugby union team. As per Bustle, breaking royal protocol, the King responded to a player's request for a hug, "A hug? Why not!" to the delight of the team, who then formed a group hug around the monarch. Later in the reception speech, Charles gushed about the group embrace, "I much appreciated this chance to meet you and have such a warm hug from most of you."