In May, he hugged a teacher recognised for her work in the deaf community. Last month, he was seen laughing and hugging Welsh woman Angela Jones during a visit to North Wales, and also warmly greeted a young footballer in Brazil with an affectionate embrace.
Online reactions reignite debate
The latest video quickly reignited debate online, with fans filling the comments section.
“Huh. I thought royals didn’t hug,” one person wrote.
“Great to see the Prince of Wales’ leadership style. Steady support and he gives hugs!” another added.
Others took a sharper tone, with one commenter saying: “Prince William is often seen in photos hugging members of the public. He sussed out Meghan Markle’s motives as soon as he’d met her so kept her at arm’s length.”
Beyond the hug: promoting green spaces
Aside from the viral moment, the video also showed William and Scott walking through a park, chatting about Scott’s childhood and the importance of access to green spaces.
They waved to children attending a local forest school and briefly joined a children’s football game.
William, who has long been involved with Fields in Trust — the only charity that legally protects parks, playgrounds, and green spaces across the UK — spoke proudly about its achievements.
“I think we can double, triple that number,” he said, referring to the 3,000 spaces already safeguarded.
The Prince took over as president of Fields in Trust from his late grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, in 2013, before handing the role to Jill Scott on July 1.
He continues to serve as the charity’s patron, a position he assumed in 2024 after succeeding the late Queen Elizabeth II, who held the role for 70 years.
