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A single photo of King Charles shows how the Royal Family are "rewriting the rulebook", experts have claimed. This week the monarch was seen hugging New Zealand's women’s
rugby union team at Buckingham Palace. After he was asked if a cuddle was allowed, he replied, cheerfully: "A hug? Why not!", which then prompted many members of the team to
embrace his presence. Following the hug, which left him smiling from ear-to-ear, he joked: "I've been flattened by a scrum!" and also told them: “I much appreciate this chance
to meet you and to have such a warm hug from you. Very healing.” The move is in stark contrast to years gone by within the Royal Family, the Telegraph's Hannah Furniss writes in a
piece titled 'Hugs and kisses: the Royals are rewriting the protocol rulebook'. In Prince Harry's autobiography Spare, Hannah notes, he wrote that he "wanted to hug"
his grandmother after watching her Golden Jubilee concert, but claimed it was "out of the question". "But of course I didn't," he wrote. "Out of the question.
I never had done and couldn't imagine any circumstance under which such an act would be sanctioned." In his Netflix documentary with wife Meghan Markle, she also shared her
experience about greeting the Queen and in-laws Prince William and Princess Kate. Meghan told viewers she was surprised that the "formality on the outside [of the Palace] carried
through on the inside". "I was a hugger. I've always been a hugger," she added. "I didn't realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits." But
while such moments are not often seen amongst royals, it's not the first time Charles has showed a more informal and affectionate side to him. After returning to Buckingham Palace as
King following his mother the Queen's death in 2022, Charles was surprised but delighted to be greeted by hugs and kisses from members of the public. According to reports, his private
secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, later told staff that Charles' reign would be characterised by "informal formality". "He is a genuinely warm and affectionate man who is
not embarrassed to express that in a public way," a Palace source told The Telegraph. "He's a relatable person." The source goes on to say that if the late Queen was not
hugged, this was due to "generational respect" which meant it "would have felt wrong to even attempt it". In Charles' biography Our King, author Robert Jobson said
despite what people think, the monarch has "always been a pretty good hugger [and is] pretty relaxed about it". He went on to say it's the people around the Royal Family who
are more strict about affectionate greetings, while the royals themselves are "fairly relaxed". "He [the King] is quite tactile and always has been. He's got a twinkle in
his eye," he added. As reported by The Telegraph, this approach isn't the same for his sister Princess Anne, who is said to have shut down a hug by a private secretary shortly
after the death of the Queen. In response, the Princess Royal reportedly replied: "That is the last time that's going to happen." According to The Royal website, there are no
obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting a member of the Royal Family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms, such as a small curtsy or bow.