Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet has shared a hilarious and mortifying story about the time she nearly exposed herself to King Charles III during their first meeting.
A Royal Introduction Goes Awry
The incident occurred at a film premiere early in Winslet's career, where she was part of a lineup being presented to the then-Prince Charles. The actress, then aged just 20, was promoting one of her earliest successes following her Academy Award nomination for Sense and Sensibility in 1995.
Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Winslet confessed: "I sort of hadn't realised that we were really going to meet him, and so I forgot about the fact that I was wearing a kind of a transparent lace outfit."
As the royal made his way toward her, Winslet experienced a moment of sheer panic. She recalled thinking: "Nipples, nipples, nipples, oh my God!" Thankfully, she revealed, "thank God I had worn a coat" to preserve her modesty during the encounter.
From Awkward Start to Royal Collaboration
Despite the inauspicious beginning, the encounter clearly didn't damage Winslet's relationship with the monarchy. The actress has since become an ambassador for The King's Foundation and is involved in their upcoming documentary, Finding Harmony: A King's Vision, scheduled for release in early 2026.
Winslet explained her involvement, stating: "I share His Majesty's passion for protecting our planet and building sustainable communities, so it's been really rewarding to work with The King's Foundation on this exciting project."
The documentary will be available to stream exclusively on Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories worldwide. When Winslet took up her ambassador role in June, Chief Executive Kristina Murrin CBE welcomed her involvement, noting they looked forward to working with her "to promote our work over many years to come."
Passing on Royal Protocol Wisdom
Winslet's royal experience has made her something of an expert on royal protocol among her Hollywood peers. She revealed that during a later meeting with the King, she found herself advising none other than Meryl Streep on proper etiquette.
"So Meryl and I, as we were walking to meet the King, she says to me, 'Do you think we have to curtsy?'" Winslet recounted. "I said, 'Absolutely, we have to curtsy.'"
When Streep expressed uncertainty about the form, Winslet demonstrated leadership by volunteering to go first, acknowledging that "someone has to get it wrong, and it's usually me that does, so I don't mind taking the hit."
The film star's journey from nearly flashing a future king to becoming a trusted ambassador for his foundation shows that even the most awkward royal encounters can lead to meaningful long-term collaborations.
