Members of the Black Ferns asked permission to break protocol before sharing a group hug with King Charles during a visit to Buckingham Palace this morning. 

The World Cup winners were visiting the King ahead of Sunday’s clash against England at Twickenham, a re-match of the 2021 World Cup final. 

“We all wanted a hug but only if that’s okay with you,” the King of England was asked by Ayesha Leti-I’iga. 

“A hug? Why not,” Charles responded. 

A video of the moment was posted on the Black Ferns official Instagram account. 

“I much appreciated this chance to meet you and have such a warm hug from most of you,” Charles added. “Very healing”. 

Leti-Iiga told British media she didn’t intend her teammates to jump in. 

“I asked him ‘Can we have a hug?” and the King said ‘Yes’ but as I went in to hug him the others all jumped on top so it turned into more of a scrum.” 

“I thought you said ‘We’ so we all got involved,” teammate Liana Mikaele-Tuu added. 

The Black Ferns take a photo with King Charles III on the Grand Staircase at Buckingham Palace. Photo / Getty Images