King Charles was seen hugging members of the New Zealand women’s rugby union team at Buckingham Palace this week, in a rare affectionate moment from the monarch

A picture of King Charles embracing New Zealand’s women’s rugby union team at Buckingham Palace has led experts to suggest that the Royal Family is “rewriting the rulebook”. The monarch was seen cheerfully agreeing to a hug with the group which he joked left him “flattened by a scrum!”

Also expressing his gratitude, he told them: “I much appreciate this chance to meet you and to have such a warm hug from you. Very healing.”

This display of affection is not a regular move from a royal. In Prince Harry’s autobiography Spare, he revealed his desire to hug his grandmother, the Queen, after her Golden Jubilee concert but deemed it “out of the question”. Meghan Markle also shared her surprise at the formality within the palace continuing outside, in a Netflix documentary with her husband.

Our King biographer Robert Jobson says King Charles ‘has always been a good hugger’ ( 
Image:
PA)
“I was a hugger. I’ve always been a hugger,” she declared. “I didn’t realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits,” reports the Express.

After his ascension to the throne following the Queen’s passing in 2022, King Charles III warmly embraced members of the public outside Buckingham Palace, showcasing a more informal and endearing side, not commonly observed among royals.

Sir Clive Alderton, his private secretary, reportedly informed staff that Charles’ reign would be marked by an “informal formality”.

“He is a genuinely warm and affectionate man who is not embarrassed to express that in a public way,” an inside source confided to The Telegraph. “He’s a relatable person.”

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The insider explained that if the late Queen wasn’t one for hugs, it stemmed from “generational respect” where attempting such familiarity “would have felt wrong to even attempt it”.

Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle stepped down from their royal duties in 2020 ( 
Image:
GETTY)
According to Our King biographer Robert Jobson, many are under the false impression that the monarch isn’t keen on hugs but he has “always been a pretty good hugger [and is] pretty relaxed about it”.

Jobson also pointed out that it’s the folks around the Royal Family who are strict on protocol regarding displays of affection, while the royals themselves take it in their stride.

“He [the King] is quite tactile and always has been. He’s got a twinkle in his eye,” Jobson further informed.

According to The Telegraph, Princess Anne has a different take on personal boundaries and reportedly shut down a hug from a private secretary after the Queen’s passing with a firm: “That is the last time that’s going to happen.”

The Royal website notes there are no mandatory rules for interacting with Royals, though traditional gestures like a modest curtsy or bow remain popular.