How King Charles' Niece Broke Royal Protocol While Greeting Him Amid Cancer Battle

King Charles

King Charles' niece couldn't contain her excitement when reuniting with the 75-year-old monarch.

Zara Tindall was so overcome with joy when she greeted her uncle at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Berkshire, England, on Friday, May 3, that she made an unprecedented move against strict royal protocol.

Tindall, 42, threw tradition to the wolves when pulling King Charles in for a big hug at the event, exclaiming, "Ah, Uncle Charles," as she embraced the monarch, according to Us Weekly's report.

While there is no "true ban on being tactile with the monarch," according to the British School of Excellence, it's not common for someone without a royal title to touch the king or queen. This was a precedent largely followed by Queen Elizabeth II, who was rarely greeted by members of the public with a hug. (Her Majesty did, however, receive a hug from then-U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama in 2009, and she even hugged her back!)

But Tindall, daughter to King Charles' only sister, Princess Anne, does not have a royal title. She and her brother, Peter Phillips, were not given HRH titles by their mother so they could grow up with a more normal childhood.

Nonetheless, while King Charles looked surprised by Tindall's gesture, he likely won't hold it against his niece, as he still looked overjoyed to see her.

Tindall's show of affection to her uncle comes amid His Majesty's ongoing cancer battle, as Buckingham Palace announced in February that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer.

After months of other fill-ins from other royal family members, including Princess Anne and Queen Camilla, the King recently returned to his royal duties, appearing at three engagements just this week.

Next: King Charles Confirms Big Change to Nearly 50-Year-Old Tradition Days After Returning to Royal Duties