Former TOWIE star Pete Wicks was not particularly impressed after his recent visit to Buckingham Palace, comparing the historic landmark to a branch of Nando's. Speaking on the Staying Relevant podcast with close friend Sam Thompson, Wicks recounted his experience attending a royal event after a day of filming for the Dogs' Trust, a charity for which he serves as an ambassador.
Wicks described changing into his suit and tie "in a kennel" before rushing across London on the hottest day of the year to reach the palace. However, upon arrival, he found himself restricted to the public areas of the 775-room residence, which he found decidedly underwhelming. He particularly criticized the restroom facilities, noting, "When you go to the toilets, there's f*****g urinals. It's like a f*****g nightclub p****r."
"It's just a public urinal, it's no different than Nando's. I can't get that excited about it," Wicks complained. He dismissed Sam's suggestion that he might have taken a souvenir, insisting the occasion itself mattered more than the setting. "It doesn't interest me that much, it's just a big house," he added, shrugging off the palace's historical significance.
Sam Thompson, meanwhile, shared his own royal encounter, admitting he "lied to the Queen" during a moment of panic. After being introduced to Queen Camilla at a red-carpet event, Thompson tried to make conversation but became flustered. He initially discussed air purifiers, then, noticing her purple dress, spontaneously declared that purple was his favorite color.
Thompson confessed he had to resist grabbing the Queen by the arm to keep her attention. "I wanted to pay her a compliment, but she was already moving off," he said. He added that he attempted to discuss the hot and humid weather and his recent Amazon purchase of an air purifier, but Camilla responded with a brief "Oh, nice, nice" before walking away. "I thought 'I can't leave it there. At least tell her that she looks great,'" Thompson recalled.
Despite his awkwardness, Thompson concluded, "She did like me, I think."
