There’s a good reason whyPrincess Annedoesn’t shake hands duringroyal walkabouts— she’s keeping with tradition!
“We never shook hands,” the 68-year-old daughter ofQueen Elizabeth IIexplains in a sneak peek from the upcoming HBO documentaryQueen of the World.
“The theory was that you couldn’t shake hands with everybody, so don’t start. So I kind of stick with that, but I noticed others don’t,” she remarks with a laugh.
Anne then goes on to explain that while “it’s not for me to say that it’s wrong,” royal walkabouts have changed significantly since the Queen began the custom in the 1970s.
“It’s become a shaking hands exercise rather than a walkabout,” she remarks.
Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne.Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock
“Then in the 1970s, the Queen decided to shake things up. She wanted to say hello to the crowds and the walkabout was born,” the narrator continues.
Anne went on to explain that nowadays, it can be hard to actually see who you’re interacting with because of all the technology people bring with them to document the moment.
“Phones are bad enough, but the iPads — you can’t even see their heads,” she remarks. “No idea who you’re talking to.”
“I either don’t bother or just say, ‘Look, if you want to ask…I suggest you put that down,'” she adds. “It is weird. People don’t believe they’ve experienced the event unless they’ve taken a photograph.”
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The documentary features members of the royal family speaking aboutQueen Elizabethand the Commonwealth — and it will air just beforePrince HarryandMeghan Marklehead to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga on theirfirst official tour of Commonwealth nations.
The series will also feature appearances from Meghan, Harry,Prince CharlesandPrince William.
Queen of the Worldpremieres Monday, Oct. 1 on HBO at 8 p.m.
source: people.com
