A dad has gained viral attention after he brought a sword to his first meeting with his daughter's new boyfriend.
Thankfully the weaponry was fake, part of the dad's unorthodox idea to greet his teenager's new partner while dressed as Henry VIII.
The hilarious royal welcome has gained viral attention on TikTok under the handle @oggyboysming, where it has been viewed over 2 million times.
"I had been rummaging around my dressing up box the earlier week and noticed my Henry VIII outfit from my son's 18th birthday was there. It just stuck in my mind," Alex Rayner, from Essex, in the U.K., told Newsweek.
Aware that his daughter was bringing her new beau to the house for the first time, Rayner couldn't pass up the opportunity for an unconventional introduction.
Bringing a new partner home to meet the parents can be nerve-racking for everyone involved, but when should you do it?
According to a survey shared by Market Watch, most adults bring a partner home to meet their parents after an average of 10 dates.
He knew that his daughter's new partner was nervous about meeting the parents, so Rayner seized the opportunity to add a touch of humor to the situation.
"As my wife disappeared to the train station to collect them, I rushed around with my other daughter, getting my kit together and preparing how I would greet him," he explained.
Kept under wraps from the rest of the family, when the couple walked in, they were greeted by Rayner, who was dressed to impress in the Henry VIII costume.
When his daughter saw it, she reportedly ran away, leaving her boyfriend to face the costume alone. "She was madly embarrassed," Rayner chuckled.
Despite the initial shock, new boyfriend Fred took it well and saw the funny side of the unusual greeting. "Poor lad," said Rayner. "He was very nice."
In thousands of comments, people shared their reactions to the video.
"This man is UNHINGED and I am here for it," said Blu, while mommacat1966 said: "Omg I just spat my tea out that poor boy but so funny."
Others laughed at how the rest of the family didn't seem too worried. Lucy said: "Everyone else walking around unfazed."
"This is such dad behavior," said H.
In response to the viral reaction on his video, Rayner said he has enjoyed watching people get a laugh out of his unusual prank. He said: "It's been wonderful to watch, a mixed bag of feedback. Mainly about my rather poor attempt at recreating a British King's outfit."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Alice Gibbs is a Newsweek Senior Internet Trends & Culture Reporter based in the U.K. For the last two years ... Read more
