Thu Feb 27 11:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Kate Middleton Breaks with Royal Tradition, Sparking Claims it Contributed to Charles and Diana’s Marital Rift
**London** – Princess Kate has reportedly rejected a centuries-old royal tradition of “blooding” her children, a practice where young royals have their faces smeared with the blood of their first hunt. This decision, detailed in a new book, *Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants*, by royal author Tom Quinn, is claimed to be a direct contrast to the experience of King Charles, whose participation in the ritual allegedly contributed to the deterioration of his marriage to Princess Diana.
According to Quinn, the tradition involves smearing the blood of a hunted animal, such as a stag or fox, onto a young prince or princess’s face. Charles himself underwent the blooding ceremony, and a royal servant quoted in the book suggests Diana’s disgust at witnessing Charles covered in blood after his first fox hunt marked a turning point in their relationship. The servant stated, “That, I think, was the start of the deterioration of their relationship, whatever people say about it being entirely about the other woman!”
Prince Harry’s own account of a similar experience killing a stag, detailed in his memoir *Spare*, provides a graphic description of the ritual, highlighting its potentially unsettling nature.
Princess Kate’s decision to forgo this tradition for Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis reflects a modern parenting approach prioritizing their wellbeing, according to the book. This stands in stark contrast to the practices of previous generations and raises questions about the evolving nature of royal traditions in the modern era.
First Piper 