Prince William ‘Disproves’ Meghan and Harry’s Claims During Heartfelt Royal Moment in Brazil

Prince William appeared to have disproved a claim once made by Meghan Markle during his first day in Brazil this week. The Prince of Wales, 43, is currently on a three-day visit for a series of engagements linked to his 2025 Earthshot Prize.

During a football training session at the Maracana Stadium, William joined children from Terra FC (Earth FC) — a campaign that encourages clubs, fans, and governments to unite in the fight against climate change. He enthusiastically took part in drills, displayed his football skills, and warmly chatted with children aged eight to twelve.

At the end of the session, the prince was seen hugging and shaking hands with the young players — a gesture that contradicts Meghan Markle’s past remarks in her 2022 Netflix docuseries “Harry & Meghan.”

In the series, Meghan recalled her first meeting with William and Kate, saying: “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. Like I was a hugger, I have always been a hugger. I didn’t realise that is really jarring for a lot of Brits. I started to understand that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside.”

William’s warm and tactile approach in Rio, especially with children, seems to suggest quite the opposite.

READ MORE: Prince William Issues Powerful Statement Days After Prince Andrew Was Stripped of Royal Titles

Prince Harry, William’s estranged brother, also claimed in his 2023 memoir “Spare” that William “recoiled” when Meghan hugged him, suggesting the Prince of Wales was uncomfortable with displays of physical affection toward people he didn’t know.

However, William’s behaviour in Brazil this week appears to contradict that claim entirely. Photos and videos from his football session with children at the Maracana Stadium showed him warmly hugging and interacting with the youngsters, prompting fans to flood social media with praise.

One fan wrote on X: “The Royals do NOT find ‘hugs jarring’ from genuinely lovely people. Prince William in Rio.”

Another commented: “Look, not ‘jarring’ at all.”

And a third added: “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.”

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