Princess of Wales has awkward encounter in headscarf while visiting Muslim centre

The Princess of Wales reached out to shake the hand of a Muslim community leader. Then the unexpected happened. Watch video.

The Princess of Wales has suffered a rare awkward moment while greeting a Muslim community leader.

Princess Catherine, 41, joined Prince William, 40, to visit Hayes Muslim Centre in London to hear about community efforts to raise funds for those affected by the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

The uncomfortable moment occurred as the Prince and Princess were introduced to a number of leaders on arrival at the centre, including Iman Sufyan Iqbal.

The Princess of Wales and Prince of Wales are welcomed by the Iman Sufyan Iqbal as they visit Hayes Muslim Centre. Picture: Getty Images

Prince William shook hands with each of the leaders in turn, and one of the gentlemen also reached out to shake hands with the Princess.

However, when Princess Catherine reached out to shake hands with Iman Sufyan, he pressed his hand to his heart instead and bowed his head.

The Princess quickly withdrew her hand and mirrored his gestures by bowing her own head and smiling as she greeted him.

Iman Sufyan pressed his hand to his heart and bowed his head instead of shaking Catherine’s hand.

According to some codes of conduct in Muslim traditions, a man and a woman won’t shake hands unless the woman extends her hand out first and the man is willing to reciprocate the gesture.

Meanwhile, the couple also met with volunteers at the centre where members helped raise more than £25,000 ($A45,218) for families left homeless by the devastating earthquakes.

Princess Catherine wears a floral headscarf which she wore while on tour in Pakistan in 2019. Picture: Getty Images

The Prince and Princess of Wales at Hayes Muslim Centre. Picture: Getty Images

Red Cross Director of Programmes Inma Lopez who has recently been to Syria was also there representing our appeal.

They also met with six-year-old Jess Jordan, of Battersea, South London, with mum Esther, 43, a writer, and dad Rob, 42, and brother Josh, three.

“It’s sad that there’s a need to do funding – it’s amazing there are communities like this here raising,” Princess Catherine said.

The royals thanked the volunteers for their efforts in helping earthquake victims. Picture: Getty Images

GI KATE TRAINS FOR BATTLE IN SNOW

The Princess of Wales ditched her dress and heels for camouflage and boots as she joined the Army in snowy conditions for battlefield training on Thursday.

Princess Catherine paid a visit to the Salisbury Plain Training Area in Wiltshire to meet with members of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards.

It’s her first visit with the regiment since she became an honorary Colonel following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. She took over from Prince William, who King Charles III made the new Colonel of the Welsh Guard.

The princess tends to a "wounded soldier" in an exercise, during her visit to the Irish Guards on Salisbury Plain. Picture: Getty Images

Crouching in the snow, the mother-of-three held the soldier’s leg as she was shown how to wrap the wound and check the casualty’s vital signs during basic battlefield first aid training.

As she placed a tourniquet – used to stop heavy bleeding – on his calf, the princess apologised and said: “It’s the first time I’ve done this.”

The princess then braved the freezing weather to learn about anti-vehicle and antipersonnel de-mining and also to take part in a viewing of the weapons systems used by the Irish Guards.

Catherine braved the freezing conditions to take part in the training. Picture: Getty Images

She then went on to receive a brief on Counter-Explosive Ordnance, which is the same de-mining training which is currently being delivered by the Irish Guards to Ukrainian soldiers.

Shortly after, the royal spent time asking the soldiers questions about their demonstrations and training as she took part in the battlefield casualty drill while it snowed heavily.

Princess of Wales meets with several personnel on exercise. Picture: Getty Images

Sharing a series of photos of the engagement on Instagram, the princess wrote: “A snowy morning with the @irish_guards on Salisbury Plain! The work of the Irish Guards is as wide-ranging as it is exemplary, from training park rangers on counter-poaching in East Africa to de-mining training for Ukrainian Armed Forces.”

Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, standing in front of an army truck during World War 2. She was undergoing ATS training in Surrey, southern England.

The visit concluded with a demonstration of the weapons system used by the regiment.

The royal’s appearance comes on the same day it was confirmed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children officially received royal titles of their own.

Princess Kate spoke with the soldiers, some of whom are working with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Picture: Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan announced their daughter Lilibet was christened in a private ceremony and was referred to as Princess Lilibet Diana in the announcement.

It marks the first time either child of the couple has been referred to with a royal title.

Her older brother Archie will be known as a prince, and their titles will be updated on the Buckingham Palace website.

KING’S SURPRISE MESSAGE TO AUSTRALIA

King Charles III sent a heartfelt message to Australia during his first meeting with new High Commissioner Stephen Smith.

As the new Monarch moves to keep the commonwealth together after the Queen’s death, he welcomed Mr Smith to Buckingham Palace to express his “deep warmth” for the country he’s visited more than 15 times.

The pair discussed the shared efforts of the United Kingdom and Australia on reversing climate change, facilitating trade and their defence commitments.

The former Labor minister who served as defence minister and foreign affairs minister under the Rudd and Gillard governments, spoke to the monarch about his visions for the historic gold standard Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA).

An enthusiastic Mr Smith and the King also swapped notes on the impending deal to supply nuclear-powered submarines to Australia as part of the AUKUS pact with the US.

Multiple sources said they believed the UK had succeeded in its bid to sell British-designed nuclear submarines to Australia, a deal that will safeguard the long-term future of the English shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness.

“It was a privilege to be received by His Majesty The King today, as the new Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, an opportunity to introduce myself as Australia’s representative in the UK,” Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Stephen Smith said.

King Charles III receives the High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia, Stephen Smith, and his wife Jane Seymour, during an audience at Buckingham Palace. Picture: Getty Images

“I have commenced this position at a time when Australia and the UK are modernising and transforming our historic relationship to meet the challenges of our time: our enhanced defence and security co-operation through AUKUS; greater economic opportunities through the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement; and our shared commitment to driving action on climate change and energy transition, including energy transition financing.”

The pair pledged to reinforce their climate commitments and reverse the change.

The Labor government has committed to shifting to renewable energy and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent by 2030. Under the previous Liberal-National Coalition government it was 26 per cent.

“His Excellency the Hon. Stephen Smith was received in audience by The King upon his appointment as High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia in London,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.