In a moment of startling candour, British makeup magnate Charlotte Tilbury has recounted the hilariously awkward moment she committed a major royal faux pas in the presence of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The founder of her eponymous beauty empire revealed that her first meeting with the monarch at Buckingham Palace did not go according to plan, all thanks to a fundamental misunderstanding of royal etiquette.
A Palace Invitation
Tilbury, whose brand is favoured by celebrities and royals alike, was invited to the palace for a reception celebrating British business. The occasion was a significant honour, but the beauty entrepreneur admits she was entirely unprepared for the strict protocol that accompanies a royal introduction.
"I got the protocol wrong," Tilbury confessed, describing the encounter as both "mortifying" and unforgettable.
The Protocol Blunder
As she was presented to Her Majesty, Tilbury, operating on instinct rather than instruction, made a critical error. Instead of the customary bow or curtsy followed by a respectful waiting for the Queen to speak first, Tilbury took a more direct approach.
"I just went straight in, 'Hello! Nice to meet you!'", she recalled, mimicking her own over-enthusiastic greeting. The informal, chatty introduction is a stark contrast to the formal deference typically shown to the sovereign.
The Queen's Gracious Response
Despite the breach in etiquette, the late Queen, renowned for her impeccable manners and unflappable nature, responded with characteristic grace. Tilbury did not elaborate on the Queen's specific words but emphasised the monarch's kind and welcoming demeanour, which immediately put her at ease despite the blunder.
The incident serves as a poignant and humorous reminder that even the most successful individuals can find themselves flustered in the presence of royalty. Tilbury's story paints a relatable picture of a moment where human excitement overrode formal procedure, and highlights the Queen's famed ability to handle any situation with warmth and diplomacy.
The charming anecdote has since become a cherished personal memory for Tilbury, a story of a unique encounter with a much-missed monarch that she can now look back on with laughter instead of embarrassment.
