King Charles fans are loving 'sweet' moment he broke protocol for hug

ok.co.uk:

King Charles III warmed hearts as he embraced the New Zealand women's rugby team in a "sweet" moment that left Royal enthusiasts teary-eyed.

The endearing encounter took place at Buckingham Palace on 11 September, when Ayesha Leti-I'iga, a player for the Black Ferns, asked the monarch for a hug.To everyone's delight, King Charles responded with a beaming "Why not? " before joining the players for a group hug amidst laughter and cheers.The 75-year-old monarch later quipped, "It was like being flattened by a scrum," adding a touch of humour to the occasion.

The video of this special moment went viral on the team's social media, amassing over 1.1 million likes, with the caption: "Kicking our feet King Charles." Fans were taken aback by the King's display of affection, which is a departure from the usual Royal protocol where men bow and women curtsey.

While hugs are not unheard of in the Royal family, they're certainly not the norm, leading some followers to comment that King Charles "really needed it." It's been a challenging year for the Royals, with both King Charles and Kate, the Princess of Wales, undergoing cancer treatments.