“No Blooding”: Princess Kate Draws a Firm Line Against Gruesome Royal Hunting Rite for George, Charlotte, and Louis
Despite her reputation for honoring the core protocols of the British monarchy, Catherine, Princess of Wales, has drawn a strict boundary when it comes to long-standing field-sport traditions. According to royal author Tom Quinn in his book Yes, Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, the Princess has firmly banned her children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—from taking part in the centuries-old royal hunting ritual known as “blooding.”
The veto underscores the modern, grounded parenting philosophy that Catherine and Prince William have instituted behind palace doors, ensuring archaic aristocratic hazing practices do not dictate their children’s upbringing.
The Archaic Rite: What Is “Blooding”?
The custom, historically practiced across British country estates and within the Royal Family, marks a young hunter’s initiation following their first successful kill:
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The Ritual: Upon felling an animal, the carcass’s fresh blood is traditionally smeared across the forehead and cheeks of the young participant.
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Generational Practice: Both Prince William and Prince Harry were subjected to the rite during childhood stalking expeditions at Balmoral.
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The Princess’s Veto: In Yes, Ma’am, Quinn notes that Catherine refused to let her children participate:“Charles’s daughter-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, has put her foot down and insisted there will be no blooding for her children.”
Prince Harry’s Harrowing Account in Spare
The severity of the tradition was previously thrust into the public eye by Prince Harry in his 2023 memoir, Spare, where he described an extreme version of the initiation at age 15 under the supervision of a Balmoral stalker named Sandy:
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The Carcass Incident: After shooting a stag, Harry alleged the guide forced his entire head directly into the animal’s cavity:“I tried to pull away, but Sandy pushed me deeper. I was shocked by his insane strength. And by the infernal smell. My breakfast jumped up from my stomach.”
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Rationalizing the Rite: While acknowledging the shock and visceral revulsion of the moment, Harry reflected on how he had been taught to view the culled stag as conservation and sustenance for the Balmoral estate, concluding that the “blood facial” felt like a grim baptism into royal duty.
Grounded Parenting and Half-Term Reunions
Catherine’s rejection of blooding aligns with the Waleses’ wider commitment to insulating George, Charlotte, and Louis from outdated court rituals while maintaining steady educational routines:
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Prince George’s First Eton Term: During a recent royal engagement at The Treehouse Children’s Hospice, the Princess shared her excitement about welcoming 13-year-old Prince George home for his first school holiday since starting as a boarder at Eton College in September, following the path of William and Harry.
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Family Reunion: Talking with hospice visitors, Catherine admitted she had missed him and was looking forward to spending the autumn half-term break together as a family.
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Lambrook Schooling: Meanwhile, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis continue their day schooling at nearby Lambrook School in Berkshire, with the entire family aligning schedules for the school recess.
