By Molly Claire Goddard
8:41am PST, Nov 4, 2025
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During a visit to Brazil for his 2025 Earthshot Prize,
Prince William played soccer with children at Maracana Stadium. The future king of England appeared comfortable and engaging as he hugged the young players and posed for photos with them.
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In
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 2022 Netflix docuseries,
Harry & Meghan, the couple claimed
Prince William and
Kate Middleton found the Duchess of Sussex's embrace alarming during their first gathering. "When Will and Kate came over and I was meeting her for the first time, I remember I was in ripped jeans, I was barefoot," Meghan recalled. "Like I was a hugger, I have always been a hugger. I didn't realize that it is really jarring for a lot of Brits. I started to understand that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside."
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Prince Harry claimed in his 2023 memoir
Spare that
Prince William "recoiled" when Meghan Markle tried to hug him. "I introduced Meg, who leaned in and gave him a hug, which completely freaked him out," the Duke of Sussex wrote.
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Despite
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's allegations, social media users pointed out how warm
Prince William was during his trip to Brazil. "The royals do NOT find 'hugs jarring' from genuinely lovely people.
Prince William in Rio," one person wrote on X.
"Look, not 'jarring' at all," a second chimed in.
"
Prince William is truly so caring and kind, especially when it comes to children. The way he takes time to hug each one and make them feel special is just heart-melting," a third added.
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Prince William seemingly shutting down
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's claims about him comes as his relationship with his younger brother remains estranged. "Their relationship is at an all-time low,"
a source claimed. "It's as if something has pushed William even further away from the prospect of a reconciliation. He is adamant that he wants nothing to do with his brother. He is more upset with him than ever."
