Prince William felt increasingly “uncomfortable” with Meghan Markle’s “constant hugging,” according to a new report.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, leaned in for a friendly embrace each time she saw the Prince of Wales, 42 — a stark contrast in tactility the royals are used to at home.
During her short-lived time in the Firm, which ended in 2020 when she and husband Prince Harry quit royal life and moved to the US, tensions began to grow between the two brothers over Markle’s warm and friendly approach, The Times reports.
“Meghan hugged [William] virtually every time they bumped into each other,” the report read, citing palace staffers.
The difference in cultures “deepened the rift between the brothers,” the outlet adds, as staffers fueled the rumor mill by false claims she was “flirting” with the prince.
While the report states that the “Suits” alum most definitely did not flirt with the future king, her affection did create a “tense atmosphere,” sources told the outlet.
As a result, the mom of two was “understandably hurt” by the “pompous” response to her friendliness.
Elsewhere, the report also detailed one instance when Markle approached Kate, William and King Charles for a hug — but the trio all flinched in unison.
“Meghan even tried to hug a singularly stiff Old Etonian equerry,” a staffer told the outlet. “He too flinched as if she’d tried to poke him in the eye.”
On another occasion, a staff member claimed that Markle had asked, “Why do William and Charles sound so serious all the time?”
The Post has reached out to Kensington Palace and reps for the Sussexes for comment.
In their Netflix series “Harry & Meghan,” released in 2021, Markle recalled her “jarring” first meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales, and claimed she didn’t know the royal “formality” happens behind closed doors.
“I started to understand that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside, that there is a forward-facing way of being and then you close the door and think, ‘OK we can relax now,’” Markle said. “But that formality carries over on both sides and that was surprising to me.”
The former actress said she was in “ripped jeans and barefoot” when Kate and William came over for dinner.
“Like I was a hugger, always been a hugger. I didn’t realize that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits,” Markle claimed, implying she got a frosty reception from the couple.
“I guess I’d start to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside, carried through on the inside,” she further asserted.
“There is a forward-facing way of being and then you close the door and you relax now. But that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me.”