This is the awkward moment the Princess of Wales was nearly “headbutted” when she greeted an old friend after many years.
Kate, 44, was welcomed by Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk and a long-time family friend, who is also Prince George‘s godfather, during a visit to Sudbury Silk Mills in 2025.
The royal mother-of-three was clearly delighted to see him and gave him a warm embrace – but the greeting didn’t go altogether smoothly, and the Princess nearly ended up getting “headbutted”.
Opening up about the incident in a new interview with The Times, Jamie admitted: “I was so embarrassed, I nearly headbutted her,” adding with a blush: “I didn’t know if I should be bowing. It was so sweet of her.”
The visit to the silk mills was intended to celebrate the unique skill and craftsmanship of British textile manufacturers, with Kate marvelling over hand-designed and screen-printed fabrics.
Jamie, a close confidante of Prince William and Kate, was even entrusted to run their royal wedding in 2011.
Speaking of the Princess, he added: “She’s a really cool woman. Amazing. He chose well. I think they’ll be like my mum and dad. I think they’re great.”
A close confidante
Jamie, the author of new novel, Beyond the Edge of Light, is the former Principal Private Secretary to both Prince William and Prince Harry, stepping back from the role in 2013.
© Getty ImagesIn the role, he’d helped William and Kate plan their wedding and joined them on overseas tours.
However, the Eton-educated author had a long-time relationship with the royal family even before working closely with the Waleses.
The former SAS soldier served as equerry to the Queen Mother from 1984 to 1986, assisting in the care of her beloved horses, and was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in 2013.
He was “hauled out of retirement” in 2023 for King Charles’s coronation, when he looked after his godson George and all the pages for the week.
Family role
In 2013, Jamie was one of the chosen few of the close family to be Prince George’s godfather.
© GettyThe seven-strong list of godparents also included the likes of William van Cutsem, the son of King Charles’ late friend Hugh van Cutsem, and the couple’s university friends Oliver Baker, Kate’s childhood friend Emilia Jardine-Paterson, and the Duke of Westminster.
The only royal to make the list is Zara Tindall, Princess Anne’s daughter and William’s cousin, who is his godmother.
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