There’s a reason we never see pictures of the Royal Family hugging the people they meet: it’s actually against protocol. And, let’s be honest, we would never let them go.

But Kate Middleton couldn’t resist breaking the rules to console a tearful fellow mum at the Place2Be Wellbeing in Schools award ceremony.

The DoC was there to give a speech supporting the children’s mental health organization when she met 13-year-old Ethan Knapton. While he was telling Kate about his struggle with autism and Asperger syndrome, his mother Ceri couldn’t help tearing up. Kate then did what any other mother would do: reached out and hugged her.

Ceri Knapton told The Daily Mail: “The Duchess just leant over and said to me ‘I’ve got to give you a hug as a mum.’ I couldn’t believe it, it was such a kind gesture.”