Related Articles
While Princess Kate has embraced many royal traditions, a new book reveals that there’s one custom she refuses to let her children take part in: “blooding.”
This controversial ritual, in which young royals have their faces smeared with the blood of their first hunting kill, has been a longstanding practice in the British monarchy. But according to a newly released excerpt from Yes, Ma’am—The Secret Life of Royal Servants, Kate has firmly put her foot down. Keep reading to learn why Kate opposes the tradition and how Prince William and Prince Harry have spoken about their own experiences with it.
Princess Kate is said to disallow her children ‘blooding’
According to The Daily Mail, royal author Tom Quinn’s new book, Yes, Ma’am—The Secret Life of Royal Servants, claims that Kate Middleton has forbidden her three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis—from participating in the royal “blooding” tradition. The book, released on February 18, provides rare insight into how the Princess of Wales is reshaping certain customs within the monarchy.
What is the blooding tradition?
The “blooding” ritual is a historic royal hunting tradition in which young royals, after making their first kill during a hunt, have their faces smeared with the animal’s blood.
This act is considered a rite of passage in aristocratic and royal circles, symbolizing respect for the hunt and the natural order. However, the tradition has sparked controversy in recent years, with growing public opposition to blood sports.
Apparently, Kate is known to have mixed feelings about blood sports, and was set against Princes George, 11, and Louis, nine, as well as Princess Charlotte, six, engaging.
The Daily Mail published an extract from the book obtained by FEMAIL, in which Quinn writes: “Charles’s daughter in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, has put her foot down and insisted there will be no blooding for her children.”
Prince William’s stance on the hunting tradition
Kate isn’t the only royal reconsidering the practice. According to Quinn’s previous book, Gilded Youth (2023), Prince William has also shown hesitancy toward royal blood sports. While William enjoys hunting—a passion he shares with King Charles—he has reportedly become increasingly aware of shifting public opinions on the matter.
“William is struggling with the traditional pastimes of the royal family as they become ever more unpopular with the public,” Quinn wrote. He also suggested that William may be reconsidering whether hunting traditions, including blooding, are appropriate for his children.
Quinn also predicted at the time that the Waleses would avoid putting their children through the gory ritual.
While William was eager to introduce the kids to shooting, Quinn noted that “few expect” Kate to “allow” them to be involved in blooding.
Prince Harry’s experience with blooding
Both Prince William and Prince Harry underwent the blooding tradition as children, along with their father, King Charles. In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry recounted his own experience with the ritual, revealing that he participated at age 15 after killing a stag with a single gunshot.
In the book, Harry describes the moment as a “show of respect for the slain” and “an act of communion by the slayer.” While he admitted feeling pride in completing the hunt successfully, his account highlights the deep-rooted nature of the tradition within the royal family.
Source link
