Royal admirers have lauded Princess Anne for her composure and professionalism following an endearing moment with Scotland’s rugby captain at the weekend.
The 75-year-old Princess Royal was on hand to award Sione Tuipulotu the Calcutta Cup after his team’s commanding 31-20 triumph over England on February 14.
During the trophy presentation, the Scottish skipper appeared to move in for an embrace with the royal patron.
Sharp-eyed observers quickly noticed how Anne deftly navigated the situation, with social media users commending her poise and adherence to established royal conventions during the exchange.
Princess Anne swerves hug from Scotland captain in awkward Calcutta Cup exchange
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GETTY
Anne responded by taking a step backwards and gently resting her hand on Mr Tuipulotu’s shoulder, smoothly redirecting the attempted hug into a more formal interaction.
The pair then shared what appeared to be a lighthearted exchange, with the Princess Royal maintaining her characteristic warmth whilst observing proper decorum.
Royal protocol traditionally discourages members of the family from embracing members of the public at official events.
One observer noted: “She probably wanted to hug him but protocol kicked in.”
Princess Anne could be seen backing away from Sione Tuipulotu’s hug
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Another fan remarked: “She almost got a hug! That’s something you never see. Notice he went in for a hug but she deflected with a pat on his shoulder. Brilliant.”
Supporters took to Facebook to express their admiration for the Princess Royal’s handling of the encounter.
One commenter wrote: “Princess Anne was just as excited as he was! She handled that perfectly.”
Others praised her conduct as “dignified and beautiful,” with one fan declaring: “The Princess Royal is absolutely phenomenal. She is a fantastic example of duty coming first. The most hard-working royal.”
Princess Anne congratulated Sione Tuipulotu after his team’s win
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PA
Some suggested that while Anne may have been personally inclined to reciprocate the gesture, her sense of duty prevailed.
“She doesn’t need to hug, her loyalty is enough,” another admirer observed, highlighting the esteem in which the royal is held.
Anne has served as patron of the Scottish Rugby Union for close to 30 years, making her a devoted fixture at matches throughout the Six Nations tournament.
Princess Anne and Sione Tuipulotu pictured holding up the trophy
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REUTERS
At Edinburgh’s Murrayfield for the England clash, she donned Team GB sunglasses, the squad’s fleece and a tartan scarf to demonstrate her allegiance.
The encounter followed another viral moment just a week earlier, when the Princess Royal appeared genuinely surprised by a standing ovation from spectators at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico during Scotland’s match against Italy on February 7.
A lipreader revealed Anne had modestly deflected the attention, seemingly unaware the cheers were directed at her until alerted by a companion.