Culture September 12, 2024

King Charles gets a group hug with New Zealand women's rugby team

WATCH: King Charles hugs New Zealand women's rugby player

King Charles III got a heartwarming surprise from the New Zealand Women's rugby team at their meeting in Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.

Aaron Chown/PA via AP
King Charles III smiles as he meets New Zealand's Black Ferns rugby union team at Buckingham Palace in London, Sept. 11, 2024.

Upon meeting the 75-year-old monarch, the team asked if they could get a hug to which he said, "why not?"

Aaron Chown/PA via AP
King Charles III smiles as he meets New Zealand's Black Ferns rugby union team at Buckingham Palace in London, Sept. 11, 2024.

The group hug prompted a big smile from King Charles and drew a witty response.

"It's like being flattened by a scrum," he said of the similarity to the tactical move on a rugby pitch.

Aaron Chown/PA via AP
King Charles III smiles as he meets New Zealand's Black Ferns rugby union team at Buckingham Palace in London, Sept. 11, 2024.

Charles thanked the team for the hug and said it was, “very healing.”

The New Zealand Black Ferns were in London to play England’s Red Roses.