The ‘affectionate’ King hugs his grandchildren during the coronation rehearsal

A new documentary shows King Charles hugging his children after previously being accused of ‘never giving hugs’ in Prince Harry’s memoirs.

The BBC production about the coronation will be broadcast and screened on Boxing Day the Wales family attending a rehearsal at Westminster Abbey.

The King can be seen greeting Prince Louis and Charlotte with double kisses on the cheek as the Princess bows to him.

The Prince of Wales then humorously practices the kiss of tribute with his father. Many claim this is the most affectionate display ever among the three generations of Kings.

Richard Jackson, Bishop of Hereford, told the Telegraph: ‘What struck me most was how extremely affectionate they are.

“It’s clearly a very close family, going back generations, and in a way you felt like you were part of a family celebration, but also a royal occasion and a national occasion.”

But, according to the Duke of Sussex, he said in his memoirs: ‘The older generation maintained an almost zero-tolerance ban on any physical contact.’

“No hugs, no kisses, no pats,” he wrote in Spare. “Occasionally, maybe a light touch on the cheeks…on special occasions.”

He added: ‘No matter how much you love someone, you could never bridge the gap between, say, monarch and child. Or heir and spare.”

In one paragraph, Harry, affectionately called “Harold” by his family, describes himself as if he was born to be the “spare kidney” for his older brother.

Harry also accuses his older brother of being the aggressor during ‘Megxit’, claiming their relationship had become so strained and damaged that William would only ‘frown’ at him.

He describes some particularly awkward encounters between himself, Meghan, William and Kate, and says his brother and sister-in-law seemed uncomfortable being hugged by his future wife.

He also appears to accuse the Princess of Wales of overreacting by demanding an apology from Meghan after she fell out with Kate over wedding plans.

However, in what will surely be poignant passages for the king, Harry describes how, when he returned to Britain to attend Prince Philip’s funeral in 2021, a clearly distressed Charles lamented to his embattled sons that he was spending his “last years would not make it a misery’. .

Elsewhere in the documentary there is a moving moment Prince William jokes about it how clumsy the catch is during the coronation ceremony and groans: ‘On the day it doesn’t go in, right?’

“No,” says the king, giggling; ‘[But] you don’t have sausage fingers like mine!’

The funny interaction is one of the highlights of a new documentary about Charles’ first year as monarch, which will be shown on BBC One on Boxing Day.

The documentary also shows footage of the couple walking rescue dog Beth (a Jack Russell) from Queen’s Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in Birkhall, their beloved Scottish home.

Camilla is dressed casually in jeans and a jacket, while Charles is in a tweed jacket and tie.

The programme, produced by The Mail’s Robert Hardman, also includes footage from last year’s Christmas broadcast.

Featuring never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive interviews with key officials, family and senior royals, it captures the galloping pace of the past twelve months, as well as moments of lightness.

During rehearsals for May’s coronation, during which he swore allegiance to his father, William is shown joking about which of his cheeks to kiss by tickling his father’s face and saying, “Your left cheek is better!”

The King and Queen celebrated Christmas Day at Sandringham with other members of the Royal Family and attended a church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church.

Charles was seen waving to the crowds who had gathered outside the Norfolk Church to wish him and his family a Happy Christmas.

He was closely followed by the Prince and Princess of Wales, who were accompanied by their children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five.

The Princess of Wales wore an elegant blue coat and matching hat as she smiled broadly as she walked to the church, holding her daughter Princess Charlotte’s hand.

Prince William also held his son’s hand as Prince George, dressed in a navy blue suit, walked alongside his sister.

For the second year running, the disgraced Duke of York walked the family from Sandringham to church.

His ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, walked behind him and smiled at the press during her first public appearance at Sandringham in years.

Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, were with their husbands, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank, respectively.

Notably absent from the Royal Christmas was the Duke of Duchess of Sussex, who spent the holiday with their children in LA.

In his Christmas message broadcast at 3pm on Monday, the king paid tribute to Britons’ commitment to ‘service’.

It was shot in the Center Room at Buckingham Palace, which opens onto the royal residence’s iconic balcony, and also featured a live Christmas tree in the background that will be replanted, complete with natural and sustainable decorations.

Charles, who has previously mentioned the importance of rewearing clothes, donned the same blue single-breasted suit he wore to his speech last year.

His second annual speech gave a nod to the environment, a departure from the typically apolitical messages of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.