Let me tell you something interesting. In the latest ITV documentary, "Queen of the World," Queen Elizabeth's daughter, Princess Anne, opened up about her decision not to shake hands with fans during royal engagements. Now, before you jump to conclusions and think Anne, who’s 68 years old, is just being rude, there's a really good reason behind it. Stick with me as I break this down for you.
In a newly released clip from the documentary—set to air on HBO in the U.S. on Monday, October 1—Anne explained her stance on handshakes. "We never shook hands," she said. "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 added. This was reported by People magazine. It’s clear that Princess Anne isn’t just skipping handshakes out of preference; it’s a principle she's held onto over the years.
Why Princess Anne Stands Firm on Her Decision
Princess Anne went on to elaborate on her thoughts regarding the changing dynamics of royal interactions. "It's not for me to say that [shaking hands is] wrong," she said. "It’s become more of a handshake exercise rather than a genuine walkabout." Anne is pointing out that sometimes the focus shifts from meaningful interaction to just going through the motions. She also expressed her concerns about how modern technology has affected personal connections. "Phones are bad enough, but the iPads— you can’t even see their heads. No idea who you’re talking to," she remarked.
She shared a funny story about how she handles situations like this. "I either don’t bother or just say, ‘Look, if you want to ask… I suggest you put that down,'" she continued. "It is weird. People don’t believe they’ve experienced the event unless they’ve taken a photograph." There’s definitely something to be said about how technology can sometimes get in the way of real human connection.
A Look Back at How Things
