Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Celebrates Olympic Gold Medal for U.K. with Hug. But What's the Royal Protocol?

Mar. 15, 2025

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh celebrates Team Great Britain’s gold medal and world record at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 5, 2024.Photo:Karwai Tang/Getty

Karwai Tang/Getty

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburghwent in for a hug with a fellow spectator after Team Great Britain made history at the 2024Paris Olympics, inspiring a dive into royal protocol.

“Yes!” the Duchess of Edinburgh exclaimed as she applauded.

While the hug was a much friendlier and informal exchange than the bows and curtsies often associated with the British royal family, there are no obligatory codes of behavior when interacting with royals.

According to the royal family’s officialwebsite, which has yet to be fully updated following the death ofQueen Elizabethin September 2022, there is no enforced etiquette, “but many people wish to observe the traditional forms.”

“For men, this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way,” the guidance outlines.

Members of the royal family appear to have relaxed their stance around traditional protocol in recent years, fromgiving public hugstosmiling for selfies.

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh (left) at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 5, 2024.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

She embarked on the endeavor years beforeKing Charlesconferred Prince Edward with the title of the Duke of Edinburgh, which was created for their late father,Prince Philip, and earmarked for Edward since he married Sophie in 1999.

Sophie became the Duchess of Edinburgh when King Charlesconfirmed the changeon Prince Edward’s birthday in March 2023, and she also serves as patron of the British Cycling Federation, the governing body for cycling in Britain.

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh celebrates Team Great Britain’s gold medal and world record at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 5, 2024.Karwai Tang/Getty

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

The Duchess of Edinburgh isn’t the first member of the royal family to go in for a hug during a major moment at the Olympics. In a rare display of PDA,Prince WilliamandKate Middletonshared anexcited embracein the stands at the 2012 London Olympics, wrapping their arms around one another when Team Great Britain won a cycling race.

Prince William and Kate Middleton at the 2012 London Olympics on Aug. 2, 2012.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

While the Paris Olympics have been a hotspot for many members of royal families so far this summer, the Prince and Princess of Wales haven’t yet appeared at the global games that began on July 26. Prince William and Princess Kate, both 42, have been outside of the limelight in recent weeks as they spend time with their childrenPrince George, 11,Princess Charlotte, 9, andPrince Louis, 6,during their school break.

While it’s possible that they may pop up in Paris before the Olympics end on Aug. 11, Princess Kate’s plans may also depend on how she’s feeling as she continuescancer treatment. The Princess of Wales announced in March that she is undergoing chemotherapy and made her second public appearance of the year at theWimbledon Tennis ChampionshipswithPrincess Charlotteand her sisterPippa Middletonon July 14.

Princess Charlotte and Kate Middleton in the Royal Box at Wimbledon on July 14, 2024.Karwai Tang/WireImage

Karwai Tang/WireImage

“Being with her family and just being herself will give her energy. There will be plenty of time to focus on her recovery,” a palace insider previouslytold PEOPLEabout Princess Kate’s summer of recovery.

source: people.com