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Prince Harry has long been known as the rebellious royal. Though his bad-boy image has softened a bit over recent years — especially following his royal wedding to Meghan Markle and the birth of his son Archie — Harry is still known to break the rules every now and then. Just as he did this week when greeting famed primatologist Jane Goodall.
On Tuesday, while attending Goodall's environmental program Roots & Shoots' sixth global leadership event at St George's House at Windsor Castle, Harry warmly greeted Goodall with a traditional primate greeting she taught the Prince several years ago.
In an Instagram caption, Royal Sussex explained, “The pair share an impromptu dance and ‘Chimpanzee Greeting’ which Jane taught The Duke when they first met. Today’s event was full of education, inspiration and fun. Because working hard and playing hard are not mutually exclusive.”
In the video, Prince Harry leads Goodall in a short dance, just as the primates do. Then, as the male in the pair, Harry pats her on the head before the two embrace and pat one another on the back. As Business Insider explained, the greeting goes against royal protocol, which dictates anything beyond a simple handshake is a no-no.
Beyond sharing a hug with Goodall, Harry also spoke at the event, passionately conveying the importance of conservation.
"As my grandmother, The Queen once said, 'Sometimes the world's problems are so big we think we can do little to help,'" Harry said, according to CNN. "On our own, we cannot end wars or wipe out injustice, but the cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of goodness can be bigger than we imagine."
In a second Instagram post from the event, Sussex Royal explained that Harry’s commitment to conservation and environmentalism truly runs deep.
“His Royal Highness believes that people are at the heart of conservation and sustainability and that in order to succeed we need an inclusive, community-centred approach,” the caption reads. “After listening to presentations on endangered species, reducing plastic waste and embracing the wild, The Duke had the chance to thank all the young people taking part for their efforts and the difference they are making every single day.”
The Goodall Institute is hopeful that the Prince’s involvement will further illuminate their cause. As Goodall Institute spokesman Shawn Sweeney told CNN, "We know that [Prince Harry] is keenly involved in youth and global environmental issues and Dr. Goodall believes that his visit will inspire the participants knowing that someone of his stature is eager to learn of their efforts.”
