There’s one Royal tradition that isn’t exactly the Princess of Wales’ cup of tea. Though Kate Middleton has embraced many royal traditions, she reportedly won’t let her kids take part in the “blooding” tradition that Prince Harry detailed in his book Spare. As he shared in his memoir, Harry was 15 years old when he killed a deer then had the animal’s blood smeared across his face.
More from CafeMom: King Charles Relieved by Trump’s Controversial Comments About Prince Harry & Meghan Markle
Prince William also took part in the tradition, but his kids probably won’t.
According to the Daily Mail, Kate will not allow her kids to participate in the “blooding” ritual, even though it’s a royal tradition. Author Tom Quinn wrote about Kate’s opinion on the matter in a forthcoming book titled Yes, Ma’am — The Secret Life of Royal Servants. In an excerpt shared by the publication, the author wrote that Kate “has put her foot down.”
It seems like she’s unlikely to change her mind.
According to the author’s account, Kate has “insisted there will be no blooding for her children.” Hunting has long been a royal pastime, but some reports indicate that that might change. Per Hello magazine, British primatologist Jane Goodall previously hypothesized that Harry would give up the hobby due to his wife’s influence. “I think Harry will stop because Meghan [Markle] doesn’t like hunting, so I suspect that is over for him,” she said.
More from CafeMom: Kanye West & Bianca Censori: A Look at Their Relationship Amid Divorce Rumors
William, too, has reportedly reconsidered the tradition a bit. In another book, per the Daily Mail, Tom Quinn wrote that William still enjoys shooting, but also knows that blood sports are becoming more “unpopular with the public.” He also pointed out that William is reportedly thinking about blood sports in a new light after having children himself, contemplating whether they are “suitable” for his kids to take part.
Will the ‘blooding’ tradition continue?
Tom Quinn has predicted that Kate and William will not pass the blooding tradition on to the next generation. They might not be the only ones. During an interview with The Telegraph in 2023, Prince Harry said that although many royal traditions, including blood sports, have “made me the man I am today,” he wouldn’t necessarily wish all of those experiences on his own children. “Would I encourage Archie to stick his head inside a carcass? Probably not,” he said at the time.
It seems like “blooding” might not be in the cards for Harry and Meghan’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, or for William and Kate’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
In his book, Harry’s depiction of ‘blooding’ was pretty graphic.
It’s easy to see why some people have perceived the tradition to be a negative thing. In his book, Harry wrote that his stalking guide “pushed my head inside the carcass” during the blooding ritual. “My breakfast jumped up from my stomach,” Harry described, per the Daily Mail. He added that his “nose and mouth were full of blood, guts and a deep, upsetting warmth.”
In spite of this discomfort, he said “this ‘blood facial’ was, to me, baptismal” and left him feeling like he had “been good to nature,” per Hello magazine.
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.
