Wendy, who teaches at the school on Ashbourne Road, told the Prince she believed his children should learn BSL so they could follow in their late grandmother Princess Diana’s footsteps, who once famously used sign language in public.
Wendy said: “I remember saying I thought his children should learn BSL, and he said he thought Prince George would like that and asked: ‘Can you teach him?’ but I’m too old and I’m not right for George. I did say there were lots of children here at the Royal School for the Deaf Derby who would love George to come and visit, and he said that could be arranged.”
The encounter ended with an emotional gesture that drew audible gasps from the room: Prince William leaned down to hug Wendy — an act that broke with royal protocol.
Paul Burrows, head teacher at the Royal School for the Deaf Derby, said the moment surprised onlookers, but not Wendy’s guests who knew how special the occasion was.
“We could see the conversation in sign language, and I saw Wendy ask if she could have a hug. When he lent down, we knew what was happening, but it drew huge gasps around the room and everyone was looking,” said Paul. “A yeoman standing near us told us that had never happened before – it was very special, and we are all so proud of Wendy here, she is a legend in our school.”
Wendy explained that the hug was second nature to her.
“It’s just not my culture to shake hands, we hug, so when he put out his hand for me to shake, I just asked if I could have a hug. He lent down and looked from side to side and then said, ‘I don’t see why not’.”
She admitted that as she walked away, she suddenly remembered a traditional formality she had missed.
“After walking away from the heir to the throne, she realised she had completely forgotten to curtsy and had to dash back to do so.”
Rebecca Mansell, Chief Executive of the British Deaf Association (BDA), praised Wendy’s recognition and her impact on the Deaf community.
“Wendy has been a member of the BDA for many years and everyone at here is so proud of her OBE, she really is wonderful and her award is so greatly deserved.”
It was at a BDA conference in Blackpool in 1990 that Princess Diana famously became the first royal to publicly use BSL.
Wendy, who was at that conference, remembered the lasting impression Diana made.
“Princess Diana was presented with a book on deaf history as a gift and she actually signed, ‘I’m very happy to receive this book’ and we were quite shocked to see royalty using BSL. It just lifted the room and it was the first time we had every had that respect for our language – no-one like that had used it before, and we have held on to that feeling of respect.”