'You may now kiss... the King': Charles' peck on the cheek in Guernsey is not the first time His Majesty has been warmly greeted... so is royal protocol evolving, asks NATASHA LIVINGSTONE

From badly-behaved animals to torrential rain, King Charles's travel to nan Channel Islands has truthful acold had each nan ingredients of a quintessential royal visit.

But nan monarch possibly sewage much than he bargained for erstwhile he greeted nan nationalist successful nan mini municipality of St Peter Port successful Guernsey connected Tuesday.

Mischievous 91-year-old section Kathleen Moriarty planted a buss connected nan King's cheek, overmuch to nan delight of onlookers. 

The large smooch was picked up by adjacent cameras, cutting done nan sound of nan crowd.

King Charles took it successful his stride, shaking Kathleen's manus and giving her a wry smile.

For a 75-year-old undergoing cancer treatment, it's a heartening motion that he is connected nan mend.

Yet an enactment of specified intimacy whitethorn person provoked a very different consequence during nan reign of nan precocious Queen.

Royal biographers specified arsenic Andrew Morton person said Queen Elizabeth would 'never' person allowed a personnel of nan nationalist to buss her, noting that she had a 'different benignant of style' from her son.

And yesterday was not nan first clip Charles has received a peck from nan public.

The time aft nan decease of his mother successful September 2022, nan caller King put connected a brave look arsenic he shook nan hands of well-wishers astatine Buckingham Palace.

In an outpouring of affection, 1 female leaned complete to buss his hand, while different landed 1 connected his cheek.

It was nan first motion of what has been dubbed nan 'informal formality' of King Charles's reign, reflecting his chilled-out attack to enthusiastic gland-handing.

As a royal newsman who regularly follows nan King connected engagements, it's thing I've seen for myself first-hand.

His relaxed style of royalty was a peculiar deed during nan circuit of Kenya past autumn, wherever nan country's mostly young organization – connected mean conscionable 19 years aged – welcomed nan King and Queen for illustration stone stars.

One 17-year-old moreover declared to maine that she 'loved' Charles connected a sunny formation successful Mombasa.

But nan King's earthy warmth towards royal fans mightiness not spell down truthful good pinch Harry.

The Duke of Sussex claimed successful his memoir Spare that his begetter 'wasn't awesome astatine showing emotions' and did not hug him successful nan aftermath of Princess Diana's tragic death.

So are nan King's advancing years making him a softer touch? 

Records from his clip arsenic Prince of Wales propose he has ever been truthful erstwhile it comes to allowing kisses from fans. 

A black-and-white photograph from November 1977 shows Charles warmly received a peck from a royal instrumentality successful Perth, Western Australia.

And fewer will hide nan bold reddish lipstick that was near connected his feature aft a lively gathering pinch nan Spice Girls 2 decades later.

It's a inclination nan caller Prince of Wales, Prince William, seems to person embraced.

On a sojourn to Wales past October nan Prince was mobbed by well-wishers who burst retired laughing erstwhile he joked: 'Who is pinching my bottom?'

And nan erstwhile month, erstwhile England footballer Paul Gascoigne sewage distant pinch planting a buss connected William's feature erstwhile he met him by chance successful Bournemouth. 

Like a erstwhile prohibition connected taking selfies, royal protocol evolves complete time.

So is nan caller edict: 'You whitethorn now kiss...the King'?