PRINCESS ROYAL COULDN'T KISS PRINCESS KATE ON THE CHEEK BECAUSE OF HER HAT AT THE COMMONWEALTH DAY SERVICE AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY.🤣. (PHOTO).

 No Way That Kiss Was Happening - Royal Reporter Explains Kate and Anne’s Greeting

A small moment of humor unfolded when members of the British royal family gathered for the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.

Among the greetings, one exchange between Catherine, Princess of Wales and Anne, Princess Royal stood out, not for formality, but for a brief, cheerful pause caused by an oversized hat.

As family members greeted one another ahead of the ceremony, Prince William approached his aunt, Princess Anne, and exchanged kisses on both cheeks in the familiar family style. 

When it was Kate’s turn to greet the Princess Royal, the two appeared to laugh lightly and skipped the cheek kiss altogether.

Royal reporter Rebecca English later shared a video of the moment online, explaining the reason behind the playful hesitation. According to her caption, Kate’s wide hat made the greeting nearly impossible.

“There was no way Princess Anne was going to attempt a kiss under a hat like the Princess of Wales,” she wrote.

Despite that brief adjustment, Kate smoothly greeted other members of the family. When she met Charles III and Camilla, she paired warm smiles with a respectful curtsy.

Prince William also greeted his father with affection when the King arrived shortly before the service began. The Prince of Wales leaned in for a kiss on each cheek before doing the same with Queen Camilla.

Although bows and curtsies are common when greeting the monarch, members of the royal family are often seen sharing hugs or cheek kisses in more relaxed settings.

Princess Anne, however, is known for preferring a more traditional approach. The 75 year old royal has occasionally joked about her own formality. 

During a recent rugby celebration involving Scotland’s team captain Sione Tuipulotu, she politely replaced an attempted hug with a firm handshake.

Her preference for formal greetings was also highlighted after the passing of Elizabeth II in 2022. 

In the book The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy, royal biographer Robert Hardman recalled a moment when a senior staff member tried to hug Princess Anne shortly after the Queen d!ed.

According to the account, Anne smiled wryly before responding firmly, “That is the last time that’s going to happen.”

At Westminster Abbey this week, however, the moment between Kate and Anne showed a lighter side of royal protocol, where even a large hat can briefly interrupt tradition and spark a shared laugh.