Singer and actress Paloma Faith has shared a cringe-worthy story about her encounter with Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton, revealing she made a mortifying comment before hastily exiting the conversation in what she describes as a "very non-PC way." The incident occurred after Faith performed at the 2023 Royal Variety Performance, where she was introduced to the royal couple in a lineup.
The Awkward Exchange with Princess Kate
Speaking on her Mad, Sad and Bad podcast this week, Faith explained that she found herself nervously chatting with Princess Kate about her weight and postpartum recovery after the birth of Prince Louis. She recalled saying, "Didn't you look good postpartum, Kate. How have you lost that weight so quickly?" before moving on to discuss children and other topics.
However, Faith soon realized that commenting on a future Queen's physique might not be appropriate, leading to increasing discomfort. In a desperate bid to end the conversation, she turned to the next person in the lineup, comedian Rosie Jones, and committed a second social blunder.
Using Disability as an Escape Route
Faith saw an opportunity to make a quick exit by referencing Jones's ataxic cerebral palsy, a condition that affects balance and speech due to damage to the brain's motor control centres. She admitted to asking Jones, "Can we just say that, because you're disabled, we have to go, and you need me to help you?"
This led to others assuming Jones required assistance with stairs, allowing Faith to slip away. She sheepishly acknowledged that Jones "helped me in a very non-PC way by allowing me to abuse and use her disability to get myself out of a potentially uncomfortable situation with some Royal Family members."
No Lasting Damage to Royal Relations
Despite the awkward exchange, Faith's standing with the royals appears unharmed. Princess Catherine later invited her to perform at the Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey the following year, indicating no hard feelings over the incident.
Paloma Faith's Personal Update
In related news, Faith recently announced the birth of her third child, a boy, on March 6th. She shared that he arrived early and spent three days in the NICU, praising the midwives and healthcare team for their incredible support. The 44-year-old added that the C-section was painful and breastfeeding has been challenging, but her son is "perfect and wonderful."
Her announcement drew congratulations from friends, including Claudia Winkleman and Alan Carr from The Celebrity Traitors, showing her continued popularity in entertainment circles despite the royal faux pas.
