Prince Harry dropped plenty of bombshells in Spare when it was released in January 2023; although some of them have been debunked over the years! “Recollections may vary,” as the infamous saying goes.
Royal fans will recall that one of the allegations was centered on Prince William‘s first meeting with Prince Harry’s then-girlfriend, Meghan Markle; specifically, the moment she attempted to hug him. Now, a new viral video is not only putting those claims back in the spotlight, but potentially calling their accuracy into question once again. Keep reading for more info…
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What Were Prince Harry And Meghan Markle's Previous Claims About Hugging?
In the memoir, Prince Harry alleged that Prince William "recoiled" when Meghan hugged him when they first met, claiming his older brother wasn't used to or comfortable with physical affection. Prince Harry wrote: "I introduced him to Meg, who leaned in and gave him a hug, which completely freaked him out. He recoiled."
Meghan made a similar allegation about her first meeting with Kate Middleton (alongside Prince William) that involved another allegedly awkward hug. In the Harry & Meghan Netflix docuseries, the former Suits actress said: "I remember I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot. I was a hugger, I've always been a hugger, I didn't realize that that was jarring for a lot of Brits."
At the time, both anecdotes were widely debated, especially since there have been many videos of the Prince and Princess of Wales warmly hugging members of the public without a second thought over the years. And now, a newly viral video has reignited the discussion…
Prince William Hugs Former Lioness Jill Scott, Seemingly Debunking Prince Harry's 'Spare' Claim
The video shows the future king embracing former Lioness Jill Scott during a celebration for the 100th anniversary of the charity Fields in Trust.
Released by Kensington Palace, the video begins with a warm and relaxed hug between the two of them, which is something fans said clashes with Prince Harry's version in Spare. To many fans, it wasn't just the hug itself, but how natural and unforced it appeared.
Many royal fans didn't hesitate to call out Prince Harry's Spare allegation online, as well as Meghan's similar allegation about her first meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales. "You can pretty much debunk anything that lying pair have said!" exclaimed one Express reader.
Internet Reactions
"Wait, so MM lied? **clutches pearls **," quipped a second in the comments, as a third echoed: "M n H need permanently debunking." "More [expletive,] but we all knew back then it was lies," noted a fourth, with others making similar comments about the Sussexes' credibility.
Others defended Prince William for not hugging Meghan when they first met while pointing out that he and Jill may have actually met before. "Hugging someone you have only just met is uncomfortable," wrote a fifth, as a sixth said William "just didn't want to hug her."
"Most people, no matter where you're from in the world, do not just grab someone and hug them! It's not done! One you get to know people then we hug! But this has shown MM to be so false, she hugs someone then sacks them!" added a seventh, perhaps in reference to the recent reports about the pair laying off some of their charity employees just before Christmas.
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Reddit Comments
The discussion continued over on Reddit, where many users suggested that Prince William's reaction had less to do with his feelings on hugging, and more to do with Meghan herself. "Harry is so hilarious! His stupidity failed to have him realize that Meghan's repulsiveness is what made William recoil!" exclaimed one user. A second echoed: "This! He got the ick right away. She is so phony I'm not surprised."
A third argued: "It wasn't her hug, it was her manner. Harry doesn't see it because he lacks good judgment of character. But others who do have it, quickly recognize how fake she is and that's what puts people off."
A fourth said they simply don't trust Meghan's version of events at all, and chimed in: "I just don't believe a word she says. Who knows the real truth? I doubt she knows herself!" A fifth concurred: "She is socially inept. And she'll never stop clapping back about that hugging business."
Many other users continued to defend both the Prince and Princess of Wales, pointing out that they've been seen hugging people countless times over the years. A sixth noted: "People can be huggers and still not want to hug a specific person." A seventh added: "We've seen both W and C hug people at events and on the rope line. They're not cold people at all so it says a lot about M if W recoiled."
Others focused on the context, pointing out the difference between embracing someone you already know versus hugging a stranger, which Meghan essentially would have been at the time. An eighth wrote: "The hug between William and Jill was one of people happy to see each other and comfortable with each other. Meghan simply does not understand the real meaning of hugs." A ninth observed: "Well the lady here greets him with 'Nice to see you,' which implies they already know each other. MM hugged William when she had never met him before."
