To think the Prince Edward did not want to touch people’s hands?

[Housebytheseanc]

Yesterday during the walk about I couldn’t help but notice he didn’t seem to want to touch/shake anyone’s hand - people kept putting their hands out but he appeared to just speak to them/avoid it.
I saw him on a few occasions shake a hand but it was obvious to me he didn’t seem to want to.

was there a reason I’m not aware of? Sophie was quite happy to and reached out to everyone…

Just curious as to whether anyone else spotted this?

I don't blame him. So many people hardly wash their hands 😬 At the beginning of covid we even needed repeated government tv adverts to remind the public to wash their hands.
Imagine all those hands being held out to him - guaranteed a good proportion of them will be crawling with bacteria 😬

I'd personally find shaking all those hands disgusting 😬 But with the position he's in it comes across as quite ignorant, as if he feels that he's better than the "plebs". He should suck it up and use some hand sanitzer afterwards.

He's probably touched out!

I don't blame him at all.

He was polite and give him a break. He's just lost his mother, so soon after losing his father.

I agree, but at least she did ask if she could give him a kiss!

It's a bit weird though

Putting your hands out so random
Strangers can touch you.

Standing in a crowd and reaching out your arms
In the hope a magical being will touch your fingers

I totally agree. They can choose not to meet and greet at all if they wish, but if you are going to do it, do it right.

No one should have to shake hands. And being a royal or a celebrity etc doesn't mean the public have the right to touch you.

I mean maybe he just doesn't like it! That's reason enough

Not surprised he doesn't shake hands but very surprised the rest of them do.

I did wonder if people would ever go back to shaking hands after the pandemic. Covid is still about so the odds are high that someone in a crowd has it. Not to mention all the other potentially dirty/germ-laden hands thrust at them.

What if someone gets him with novichock though

I did feel for Meghan when they did the walk about outside Windsor - it's happened to Kate too, when a young woman asked for a hug. What do you say? In the full glare of the cameras it would be difficult to refuse otherwise imagine the gutter press headlines the next day. No need for it - quick chat, maybe a brief handshake, then move on.

Who'd want to shake the hands of the great British public? The people who analyse your every action and pull you apart if you do something they dislike. The people who shove phones into your face regardless of the situation just so they can get an Instagram post.

I don’t blame him. Watching people shake hands with lots of the royals in the last week, there are so many weirdo members of the public that rudely grab onto them and won’t let them go. It must be very awkward for them.

This. And yet even when it was obvious that he was not really wanting to shake hands, people were still reaching out their hands for him to shake. Could they not see the gesture he was making by waving slightly.

They can choose not to meet and greet at all if they wish, but if you are going to do it, do it right

I’m pretty sure that people were happy to see and speak to him without shaking hands, rather than not have the chance to see or speak with him at all.

Yanbu
It stuck out like a sore thumb.
I think it goes to show how clueless he is about his role (and that we pay for it).

I'm quite astonished any of them have been shaking hands with no gloves on. Risk of poisoning to them, risk of Covid or other contact spread illnesses to them, or them passing those pathogens to all the others they've touched. People standing in the queue have access to toilets but do they have access to proper hand washing stations? I doubt it and hand sanitizer can only do so much.

Coming out and talking to people is a nice touch I really don't feel like they owe anything else and I certainly wouldn't want to touch lots of random people.

We think we pay for the right to touch someone?

*you

But he picked out a few people who he did shake hands with, and ignored others.
That makes it a lot worse imo, it would be better not to do it at all.
I saw him shake hands with an attractive blonde woman and distinctly ignore the next person along who held his hand out twice. We both said Ouch that was a snub and a half.

As for people asking for kisses, I think it’s pretty mannerless. Of course it’s awkward to refuse, then awkward again if you say yes to someone further along. Why do people think they want to kiss them?

I know what you mean. But if Charles (and Camilla, William, Kate, Harry, etc) is shaking hands then there's no reason why Edward can't.

I would think he shakes hands when introduced to someone, but probably doesn't like the idea of walking along a line & randomly shaking hands.

The royals if I have understood have been effectively saying thank you for your condolences & respect for HMQ with these walkabouts.

So not a formal duty as such.

Princess Anne doesn’t shake hands.
why should Edward do it just because everyone else is?
I think it’s more important to focus on conversation rather than physical gestures.

Proper Mumsnet answer: what did he say when you asked him about it ?

I honestly can't believe people think we should have some sort of right to touch the royals just because "we pay for it". Nobody should be expected to have unwanted physical contact with anyone! Honestly, I think the whole system is so inhumane. These are grieving people, not performing circus animals.