© Photo: Getty ImagesIn honour of National Random Acts of Kindness Day on 17 February, we're taking a look at the best photos of royals showing their kind-hearted nature. From the Duchess of Cambridge to the Duchess of Sussex, the royal family warm hearts with their big hugs and affectionate chatter. Even when they're out on official engagements and in strict working mode, the royals can't resist embracing well-wishers during walkabouts, especially adorable children!
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The Countess of Wessex
Sophie has volunteered on a number of occasions throughout the pandemic, preparing food for key workers, organising donations at food banks and assisting St John Ambulance at their vaccination centres.
In December 2021, she was pictured serving food and drink during a visit to The Lighthouse community hub in Woking.
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© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Duchess of Cambridge
Kate kept her promise when she wore a pink dress to meet Mila Sneddon. The six-year-old captured Kate's heart after a photograph of the little girl was included as part of the royal's Hold Still project in 2020. Mila, who is undergoing chemotherapy for leukaemia, was pictured kissing her home's kitchen window after being separated from her father during the first lockdown.
The Duchess first spoke to Mila over a Zoom call in May 2021, promising the youngster that she would wear a pink dress when they could meet in person. True to her word, Kate wore a bubblegum pink Me+Em dress as the pair met face-to-face at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh later that month.
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© Photo: Getty ImagesPrincess Charlotte
During her debut at the Christmas Day 2019 church service in Sandringham, Princess Charlotte melted hearts when she was pictured hugging one woman in a wheelchair, as she greeted members of the public. The then four-year-old royal was given a number of gifts during the walkabout, including an inflatable pink flamingo.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Duke of Sussex
Prince Harry might just wear the crown for best royal hugger though. One of his most memorable interactions with a fan was in June 2017 when he visited Sydney, Australia. Despite the torrential rain and thunderstorm, which left him drenched to the skin, Harry remained in high spirits and brightened up the day of 98-year-old Daphne Dunne. The Prince had met Daphne once before in 2015, and was reunited with her again in 2018 during Harry and Meghan's tour of Australasia. "He kissed me on the other cheek this time," said Daphne in 2017. "He really is a lovely young man and he's warm and genuine."
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© Photo: Getty ImagesHarry also comforted one tearful fan in Australia, who was so excited to see the Prince she broke down in tears.
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© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Duchess of Cambridge
Kate has carried out hundreds of royal visits in her eight years as a member of The Firm, and some of the sweetest hugs she's shared are with little children. In the left photo, the Duchess received a warm hug from six-year-old Diamond Marshall at Calgary's international airport in 2011. Sadly, the brave youngster lost her battle to cancer in December 2014.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Duchess of Sussex
Harry appears to have found his match in his wife Meghan when it comes to the best hugs. During the couple's visit to Cardiff, Harry told a group of children attending a dance class to "hug Meghan", prompting the girls to rush over and embrace her in a big group hug.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe former actress is famously tactile and known for her warm nature. Bonnie Hammer, the woman who hired Meghan to star in Suits, has previously said: "Meghan is not formal, Meghan is warm, she's a hugger, she's a kisser. I heard a story from her very early in their dating and Meghan would come up to the palace and she'd get out of the car and she'd have a bag or two. The guards would basically greet her and kind of walk her in. After the first couple of times I guess she started giving a hug to the guys, which wasn't exactly protocol and at some point somebody said to her, 'People don't usually do that' and she said (shrugging) 'I'm American, I hug'."
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe mum-of-one shared a very sweet hug with five-year-old Luke Vincent, who greeted her as she and Harry landed in Dubbo, Australia.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Prince of Wales
Prince Charles shared his sympathy with a local whose family member went missing in the 1999 Kosovo war. The future King was visiting Pristina in March 2016 and had an emotional moment with the local.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Duchess of Cornwall
Camilla showed her kind-hearted nature as she embraced one fan, Konstantinos Faitakis, in Crete in 2018.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Countess of Wessex
During a visit to the Isle of Wight, the Countess of Wessex had a warm exchange with a cast member after she watched a performance at the Shanklin Theatre.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Duchess of Sussex
Meghan was reunited with victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, who united to create a charity cookbook called Together. The Duchess wrote the foreword for the best-selling book.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Duke of Sussex
Harry first met Relebohile "Mutsu" Potsane in 2004 when he was a 19-year-old Gap Year student visiting Lesotho. And in 2016, the pair were reunited at Kensington Palace when Mutsu and 11 of his friends visited London to perform in a special fundraising concert. Mutsu was 16 at the time, and although a little more shy, gave Harry a warm hug.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Duchess of Cornwall
Camilla is greeted with a hug by a youngster at Rufford Primary School in 2008.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Duke of Cambridge
Prince William shared a lovely moment with Katie Daley during a visit to Aintree University Hospital in 2017. William visited the hospital to formally open the new Urgent Care and Trauma Centre.
