Princess Kate and Prince William have been hailed for taking a “new approach” to the monarchy, as they hosted a “poignant” engagement this week.
The Princess of Wales hugged 16-year-old Liz Hatton during a meeting at Windsor Castle, with the pair bonding over their respective battles with cancer.
Hatton, a budding photographer, was invited by William and Kate to take pictures for the day’s investitures and spoke with the princess about her own fight against a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Speaking to GB News, Royal Biographer and former photographer Ian Lloyd praised the couple for taking a “new and modern approach” to operating within the monarchy, following Kate’s triumphant return to duty.
Princess Kate was visited by a young girl battling cancer at Windsor Castle this week
Kensington Palace
Lloyd exclaimed: “It’s indicative of a new approach of the monarchy. In previous generations, it was them and us. And now, particularly in this case of cancer, it’s all together.
“Kate has been a sufferer, but also she’s interested in photography as well, so there’s that bond there. But it’s a meeting of equal minds.”
Comparing the Prince and Princess of Wales to the late Queen Elizabeth II, Lloyd noted how during her reign, she would “never have hugged someone who was ill”.
Lloyd explained: “It’s very different to how it used to be. They allowed Liz Hatton to take photographs of the investiture at Windsor, which normally would never happen.
The Prince of Wales was spotted at Aston Villa’s match against Bayern Munich on Wednesday
Reuters
“I think the Royal Family are thinking a bit out of the box now. They are using a new approach and are more relaxed. You wouldn’t get the late Queen hugging somebody who’s been ill – that just wouldn’t happen.”
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Hailing Kate’s “openness” and the “wonderful” photo captured of the princess with Liz Hatton, Martin noted how the “intimate” meeting highlights how most people “have been touched by cancer in some way”.
Martin told Lloyd: “When you look at that photograph of the hug with Liz, it is a really intimate moment. It is a moment that anybody who’s been touched by cancer or a loved one has been touched by cancer, can see the warmth radiating out of that hug.
“It’s connecting her own condition to the human condition, to the public, to say, I’m one of you. I’m not afraid. And literally embracing her as she’s no doubt embracing her own demons, I think it’s a wonderful photo.”
Lloyd agreed with Martin, noting how the Princess is “insistent” of her journey with cancer “not being an individual thing”.
Ian Lloyd said the Prince and Princess are taking a ‘new approach’ to the monarchy
GB News
Lloyd said: “Liz brought her mother, stepfather and brother with her too. And if you look at the photograph of them, they’re all really smiling. So it must have been a great, inspiring day.
“Liz said afterwards that they’re such ‘lovely, genuine people’, and she was ‘over the moon’ that her family had the experience, so they bringing in the family as well, which is quite important.”
Turning the discussion to Prince William’s appearance at this week’s Aston Villa game, Lloyd noted how the future King is showing he is a “normal person”, watching a sport which “means so much to him”.
Lloyd told GB News: “It’s in that kind of tradition like the late Queen was with her racing. It’s obviously something that matters an awful lot to him.
“And to most people, football is an obviously leading sport. So it’s uniting people, bringing people together. And he’s doing what a lot of people would be doing at home, watching it on the TV. But it’s a sort of bonding between the monarchy and people.”