King Charles beams as New Zealand women’s rugby team give ‘very healing’ hug

King Charles beams as New Zealand women’s rugby team give ‘very healing’ hug at Buckingham Palace
The King, who is in the midst of cancer treatment, was wrapped up in a ‘healing’ hug by the New Zealand women’s rugby team at a Buckingham Palace reception on Wednesday

Charles smiles as he hugs members of the New Zealand women’s rugby union team at Buckingham Palace
King Charles appeared overjoyed to meet the New Zealand women’s team and spoke with them at length

King Charles was all smiles as he found himself at the centre of a warm embrace from the New Zealand women’s rugby team, the Black Ferns, who are in Britain to face off against England’s Red Roses. His Royal Highness couldn’t help but chuckle when he got swept up in a group hug after responding to a cheeky request to embrace the monarch with “hug? Why not”.

Ayesha Leti-I’iga, the team’s winger, initiated the affectionate encounter, and her fellow players were quick to join in, leaving Charles in fits of laughter during the Buckingham Palace event. Later on, the King had the squad in stitches with an off-the-cuff remark during his speech, saying: “I much appreciated this chance to meet you and have such a warm hug from most of you,” and quipped that it was “very healing”.

Amidst the jovial atmosphere, details emerged about Charles’ first significant trip since being diagnosed with cancer. The tour will see him head to Australia and attend a Commonwealth leaders’ summit in Samoa, although he regretfully announced that he won’t be able to visit New Zealand, as he alluded to at the event.

King Charles told the Kiwis he could not visit the country, where he is head of state, on “doctor’s orders”. He said: “I’m extremely sorry I can’t come to New Zealand in later October because of doctor’s orders, but I hope there’ll be another excuse (to come) before not too long.”

At the reception, while champagne flowed for the guests, the athletes chose to stick with fruit juice and water. The King lightened the mood further by joking about not being able to offer the players a drink, saying: “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.”

During the event, Charles engaged in a hongi, the traditional Maori nose-pressing greeting, with Allan Bunting, head coach and director of rugby for the Black Ferns.

King Charles III performs a hongi (a traditional Maori greeting) with team manager Allan Bunting as he meets New Zealand’s Black Ferns rugby union team at Buckingham Palace in London. Picture date: Wednesday September 11, 2024.
King Charles performs a hongi (a traditional Maori greeting) with team manager Allan Bunting as he meets New Zealand’s Black Ferns
The players also serenaded the King with a waiata, a traditional welcome song, after he shared his condolences for the recent passing of New Zealand’s Maori King Tuheitia.

Charles was in high spirits amongst the lively players who are gearing up to face their English rivals this weekend at Twickenham, in what will be a replay of the 2022 Rugby World Cup final which saw victory for the Kiwis on their turf.

He revealed to a group that his rugby school days saw him in the second row, where he even broke his nose.

The King remarked: “It was the worst position, it was a bit dangerous sometimes.”

In conversation with Ms Leti-I’iga and her teammates, he inquired about their diet, to which she humorously responded: “Do I look like someone who sticks to a diet?”