A royal reporter shared some insight into why they switched up their hello

Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales laughs with Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal upon arrival to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London

Kate Middleton and Princess Anne on Commonwealth Day on March 9, 2026.Credit : Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty

The British royal family exchanged warm greetings as they gathered for the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, but Kate Middleton and Princess Anne skipped giving a kiss on the cheek — reportedly due to their headwear!

While Prince William said hello to his aunt with a kiss on each cheek, Princess Kate, 44, and Princess Anne, 75, seemed to joke as they greeted each other without a kiss.

Royal reporter Rebecca English of the Daily Mail, who shared a video of the exchange on social media, explained that they didn’t attempt the kiss due to Princess Kate’s large hat.

“There was no way Princess Anne was going to attempt a kiss under a hat like the Princess of Wales,” English captioned a video of the moment on Instagram.

Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's King Charles III, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales and Britain's Queen Camilla arrives to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service ceremony

Royal family at Commonwealth Day service on March 9, 2026.Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty

Princess Kate expertly navigated her headpiece while giving kisses to other members of the royal family. For both King Charles, 77, and Queen Camilla, 78, Kate’s warm greeting was accompanied by a curtsy.

Prince William, 43, was the first family member to greet his father, who arrived last just before the ceremony started, by approaching with a kiss on each cheek. William then greeted Queen Camilla with a kiss as well.

While the members of the royal family often greet the monarch with a bow or curtsy, they are also seen exchanging hugs and kisses informally.

Princess Anne has been known for sticking to more formal greetings while also poking fun at herself. When Scotland rugby team’s captain Sione Tuipulotu went in for a hug with the royal after the team’s recent win, she humerously opted for a handshake instead.

After Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2022, Princess Anne also reportedly expressed her preference for more formal greetings. Royal biographer Robert Hardman wrote in his book, The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy, that a senior staff member offered her a hug shortly after the monarch died, but she had an unexpected reaction to the gesture.

“There then followed a wry smile. ‘That is the last time that’s going to happen,’ the Princess said firmly,” Hardman wrote.