King Charles gets a group hug with New Zealand women's rugby team
"I've been flattened by a scrum," he joked with the women after the embrace.
September 12, 2024, 8:13 AM
King Charles III got a heartwarming surprise from the New Zealand Women's rugby team at their meeting in Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
![](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/a5287098-de74-4c7c-ac55-3806fcb480a0/charles1-ap-ml-240912_1726141632825_hpEmbed_3x2.jpg)
Aaron Chown/PA via AP
Upon meeting the 75-year-old monarch, the team asked if they could get a hug to which he said, "why not?"
![](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/e9118cbf-d5b8-429c-baa0-f8cb1a420330/charles4-ap-ml-240912_1726141641188_hpMain.jpg)
Aaron Chown/PA via AP
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.
![](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/b22bba02-8ded-400e-ad01-d3c67589c353/charles2-ap-ml-240912_1726141633223_hpEmbed_3x2.jpg)
Aaron Chown/PA via AP
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.