In a heartwarming and unorthodox moment at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, King Charles III embraced a spirited reception from New Zealand’s women’s rugby team, the Black Ferns. During a special event held in honor of the team, Charles, who was in high spirits, playfully invited the Black Ferns to give him a hug, leading to an endearing scene of royal affection.
The incident began when New Zealand wing Ayesha Leti-I’iga, breaking from traditional protocol, boldly asked the King for a hug. Her teammates quickly followed suit, resulting in a delightful royal scrum. King Charles, with a smile and a laugh, welcomed the affectionate gesture and commented, “hug, why not,” as the team members gathered around him.
In a subsequent impromptu speech, Charles humorously acknowledged the warmth of the encounter, saying, “I much appreciated this chance to meet you and have such a warm hug from most of you,” and added, “Very healing.” The lighthearted moment was well-received by the Black Ferns, who enjoyed the royal attention.
Charles’s reception of the rugby team came as part of his first major tour since his recent cancer diagnosis. Details of his planned travels were revealed earlier this week, including a trip to Australia and a state visit to Samoa for a Commonwealth leaders’ summit. However, he announced that he would not be traveling to New Zealand as initially planned due to medical advice. “I’m extremely sorry I can’t come to New Zealand in later October because of doctor’s orders,” he said, expressing hope for another visit in the near future.
During the event, guests were served champagne, but the rugby players chose fruit juice and water, prompting Charles to joke, “I’m so pleased to have this opportunity to greet you all, for a short moment — apparently not to be able to give you a drink.”
In addition to the informal moments, the Black Ferns honored the occasion by performing a waiata, a traditional Maori welcome song. This gesture was particularly poignant, as it came after King Charles expressed his condolences for the recent death of New Zealand’s Maori King Tuheitia.
The Black Ferns, who are in the UK to face England’s Red Roses at Twickenham on Saturday, will be looking to build on their success from the 2022 World Cup, where they emerged victorious against England in Auckland.
The warm interaction between King Charles and the Black Ferns highlighted a unique and touching moment of cultural exchange and mutual respect, reflecting the King’s genuine engagement with his guests despite the challenges of his recent health.