Meghan Markle faced an awkward moment on stage at the One Young World summit in London last night when her attempt to hug the event organiser clashed with a respectful curtsy. The Duchess of Sussex, 38, appeared at the Royal Albert Hall for her first public appearance since the documentary Harry and Meghan: An African Journey aired.
As Meghan strode onto the stage with arms outstretched for a warm embrace, organiser Kate Robertson simultaneously performed a curtsy, resulting in an awkward tangle. The duchess ended up with her hands around Robertson’s shoulders, while Robertson’s arms went around Meghan’s waist. The pair laughed off the mishap, with Meghan shaking her head and insisting on a hug.
There are no obligatory rules for greeting royals, but tradition dictates a small curtsy for women or a bow for men. A handshake is acceptable, but hugging is not customary. Meghan attended the event in her role as vice-president of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, which partners with One Young World to bring young leaders together.
Wearing a £107 recycled purple Babaton by Aritzia gown, Meghan exchanged hugs and handshakes with admirers. The summit, described as a ‘global forum for young leaders’, gathered 2,000 people from over 190 countries. Meghan has been involved with One Young World since 2014, advocating for women’s rights.
The appearance came hours after a source told CNN that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are ‘single-handedly’ modernising the monarchy. Meghan’s last public engagement was the ITV interview where she admitted struggling with royal life.
