As the brother-in-law of Prince William, James has had his fair share of royal encounters, but this particular incident stands out.
The 37-year-old entrepreneur recalled the time when he and Pippa were running late to a birthday tea for their sister, the Princess of Wales, at Sandringham, hosted by the Queen. After catching a late-night flight from France to Gatwick, the pair rushed to pack in Bucklebury before heading to Sandringham.
James described the frantic moments, from ironing woes to a missing cufflink, which left them “breathless and flustered” upon arrival, with barely enough time to change. On the drive to Norfolk, James rehearsed his greeting to the Queen, but when he entered the room, things didn’t go as planned.
As he hurried into the gathering, almost bumping into the Queen and Prince Philip, James nervously blurted out, “I’m so sorry we’re late, Your Royal Majesty,” causing everyone to stifle their laughter.
James recalled hearing a snort of laughter and noticing the assembled guests trying to hold back their giggles. The Queen graciously responded, “Oh, how lovely to see you, James. You must be hungry. Make sure you have something to eat.”
James also fondly remembered bonding with the Queen over a puzzle one Christmas, likening the moment to time spent with his own grandparents, who had all passed away when he was a teenager.
Reflecting on these memories, James remarked, “It still feels surreal—the fact that I was there with the Queen. I look back on it with amazement.”
