King Charles’ unexpected three words as he hugs survivor of Australia’s ‘stolen generation’

King Charles was welcomed with open arms as he met a survivor of Australia’s ‘stolen generation’ who were taken from their parents and placed in children’s homes.

Charles exclaimed “hugs are good” as Uncle James Michael ‘Widdy’ Welsh, 72, told him he wasn’t much of a hand shaker. James was taken from his family in Coonamble, in central NSW, when he was eight years old. He was placed in Kinchela boys home and given the number 36.

After being pictured hugging the smiling King at the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence in Sydney, he said: “I told him I was there from the Kinchela Boys organisation and one of the so-called ‘stolen generation’ and he put his hand out to shake my hand. I said to him ‘I’m not much of a hand shaker, I’m more of a hugger or cuddler.

“He said ‘hugs are good’. So I went in for the hug and he gave me one back. That’s my way of making a sense of feeling between people. Shaking hands is not a good way to understand people. A hug is a way of connecting with someone’s aura.

“He made me feel comfortable, it was really good. It was a welcome hug. I welcomed him there and let him know. I’m a survivor of Kinchela Boys school, I was taken away from my parents.” The survivor, known as ‘Widdy’, was among seven siblings taken away from his mother. Hundreds of children were taken away from Indigenous families during four decades during a massive scandal.

Widdy added said: “It was good he was there and he appreciated the hug as he hugged me back. I had a really good feeling about him. I got the feeling he is somebody who genuinely cares. “I wouldn’t mind sitting down and having a yarn with him to be honest and tell him everything that has happened and how to help the children coming up for a better future. Widdy, of the Wailwan indigenous people, added: “There is too much anger around. It was a genuinely good cuddle.”