Man Who Mistook Prince William for Prince Writes Apology

A 22-year-old man who mistook Prince William for the late pop singer Prince has written an apology to the royal. The encounter occurred on October 6, when Prince William visited the Sweet Surprise cafe in Ilminster, Somerset.

While meeting the Prince of Wales, the young man, identified as Sebastian Smith, asked, "When are you going to sing?" He believed Prince William was the musician Prince, known for hits like "Purple Rain," and expected him to perform. Prince William shared the anecdote during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, noting that he did not know the lyrics to "Purple Rain."

Sebastian Smith has Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. His mother explained that Sebastian is a significant fan of the singer Prince, who died in 2016, and knows many of his songs. "To be honest, I don't think Sebastian had any idea who Prince William was," his mother stated, "but he's a massive fan of Prince the singer and can list all his songs and knows all the lyrics."

Following Prince William's retelling of the event on television, Sebastian's family came forward. Sebastian has since written a letter to Prince William, thanking him for his visit and apologizing for the confusion. "We hope he sees it," Sebastian's mother added.

Prince William's appearance on The Graham Norton Show marked a rare occasion where he shared personal stories and a more relaxed side. He discussed his childhood ambitions, including a desire to be a police officer and a brief attempt at being a DJ. He also spoke about his support for the Aston Villa football club and promoted his Earthshot Prize initiative. The program also featured guests Cate Blanchett, Hannah Waddingham, Robert Irwin, and singer Jorja Smith.