King Charles broke royal protocol in a rare moment of public affection yesterday as he reunited with an old friend during the first day of his US state visit.

In footage taken during the King and Queen Camilla‘s lavish garden party held at the British Embassy in Washington, Barbara Allbritton, who previously served as the Chair of the Prince of Wales Foundation in the US, deviated from the norm of a handshake.

Instead, Barbara placed her arm around the monarch, 77, and pulled him into a warm embrace, before giving him a light kiss on his cheek that signified their familiar bond.

Placing a tender hand on his shoulder for a short period, she was seen smiling brightly as the pair held a brief but animated conversation, while other guests at the garden party watched on at their heartwarming interaction.

The lighthearted moment soon attracted the attention of numerous social media users, who noted that the pair have ‘known each other for a long time’ and were understandably ‘delighted’ to have spotted one another in the crowd of 650 guests.

‘The pair are obviously known to each other. Charles reached for the hug at the same time,’ one X user commented.

However, others suggested that the decision to hug the monarch deviated from royal protocol which traditionally discourages members of the Firm from hugging or initiating any physical contact with members of the public.

‘I know numerous protocols were broken but I love this for her,’ added one onlooker, while another added: ‘This lady did what half of Britain wishes they could – break protocol and show some real human warmth to the King.’

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King Charles momentarily broke royal protocol in a rare moment of public affection yesterday as he reunited with an old friend during his US state visit

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A sweet video captured the moment Barbara Allbritton, who once served as the Chair of The Prince of Wales Foundation in the US, warmly embraced the monarch, 77, before placing a light kiss on his cheek during a lavish tea party in Washington

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The lighthearted moment soon attracted the attention of numerous social media users, who noted that the pair have ‘known each other for a long time’ and were understandably ‘delighted’ to have spotted one another in the crowd of 650 guests

While it may have been a far cry from the traditional royal etiquette during public engagements, Charles and Barbara have shared a close bond for several years and have previously displayed a more tactile relationship.

In March, the King was similarly captured placing his arm around Barbara during a reception held at Clarence House to celebrate the inaugural Queen’s Reading Room Medal recipients, honouring Selina Brown as the first winner of the prestigious award.

Meanwhile, Barbara and Charles’ connection spans several decades – with Barbara’s late husband, Joe L. Allbritton, maintaining a close, long-term philanthropic and social relationship with the King prior to his death in 2013.

Indeed, the couple forged such a close bond with the Royal Family that in 2011 they received an invitation to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding at Westminster Abbey, while Joe was also a major donor to a number of Charles’s charities.

Indicative of their close bond, in that same year, Charles reportedly borrowed a private seven-seater private jet owned by Joe to fly to Washington to meet then President Barack Obama for a conference.

The decision for a member of the Firm to accept a private jet from a member of the public caused a degree of controversy at the time. However, Clarence House confirmed at the time that Charles would pay nothing towards the flight.

Joe was even said to be prepared to invest millions into Charles’s Duchy Organic food brand. However, Charles later opted to work with Waitrose on the project, though it appeared to have little strain impact on their budding friendship.

Following Joe’s death, Barbara and Charles’s friendship continued to stand the test of time, and in March 2015, Charles and Camilla attended a private charity event hosted by Barbara at her home in Washington.

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In March, the King was similarly captured placing his arm around Barbara during a reception held at Clarence House to celebrate the inaugural Queen’s Reading Room Medal recipients, honouring Selina Brown as the first winner of the prestigious award

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Following Joe’s death, Barbara and Charles’s friendship continued to stand the test of time, and in March 2015, Charles and Camilla attended a private charity event hosted by Barbara at her home in Washington

The royal couple, then the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, joined Barbara and her son Robert, founder of Politico, for the black-tie event that was so secretive that other guests were only given the address earlier in the day.

April 27 marked the first day of Charles and Camilla’s historic US state visit designed to reinforce strained transatlantic ties with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

Their Majesties hosted the garden party just hours after touching down at Joint Base Andrews, where they were greeted with gifts and a military band as they stepped off the plane and walked down a red carpet.

After standing for the UK and US national anthems, Charles, 77, and Camilla, 78, were then driven in a motorcade to the White House, where Donald Trump and First Lady Melania greeted them.

The royals had tea in the Green Room and were taken to the garden to see a newly-expanded beehive, rebuilt in the shape of a miniature White House, before attending the garden party at the UK’s embassy.

In traditional garden party fare, guests were treated to 3,000 handmade sandwiches including Scottish smoked salmon, roast beef and horseradish sandwiches using imported British cuts brought in under new tariff-free treaties, egg mayonnaise, and lightly pickled cucumber, followed by scones.

Guests included Olympic diver and celebrity knitter Tom Daley as well as football ace Esme Morgan, a Lionesses World Cup winning star who plays for Washington Spirit.

Among the political figures there were Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury, Senator Ted Cruz, former speaker Nancy Pelosi and current speaker of the house Mike Johnson.

Prince William’s old school friend, Guy Pelly, who now lives in the US, was also in attendance.

Daley, 31, who now lives in LA with his husband and two children, jetted in for the day to attend the garden party.

He said: ‘Knitting is my outlet for all my creativity, my mindfulness and my meditation and the King has tried knitting many a time.

‘He said he tried knitting when he was eight and he wasn’t very good but he said he might pick it back up – he knows it’s very good for mental health.

‘But I want to try and get it back into the school curriculum and maybe he can help me do that.’

But before joining the garden, the King and Queen saw a time capsule created to mark America’s 250th anniversary celebrations this year.

Earlier in the day, Charles and Camilla had been formally welcomed by Trump and the First Lady at the White House, where the two couples exchanged warm greetings before retreating inside for private talks over tea.

The meeting – deliberately kept away from cameras – marked the opening of the King’s first US state visit of his reign, a four-day tour seen as pivotal for the so-called ‘special relationship’.

The King has been tasked with using the monarchy’s soft power to help steady relations, which have become increasingly fractious in recent months.

Arriving in Washington aboard the British Government GBNI aeroplane, Charles and Camilla were greeted with full ceremonial honours at Joint Base Andrews, where a military guard and band lined a red carpet beneath blazing sunshine.

Camilla made a pointed diplomatic gesture by wearing a historic brooch featuring the Union flag crossed with the American Stars and Stripes – a piece originally gifted to Elizabeth II during her 1957 visit to the US.