Phil Collins spills his royal secrets: From Princess Diana at the dentist to faux pas with the Queen
Phil Collins has revealed details about his longstanding relationship with the British Royal Family in Not Dead Yet, his new memoir, some 25 years since he first got to know the group. The 65-year-old singer started working with Prince Charles' charities in the 1980s, and by 1991 he was securely positioned as part of their "inner sanctum." From bumping into Princess Diana at the dentist to his faux pas when meeting the Queen, he has shared some interesting titbits from his royal run-ins.
TAP TO VIEW FULL GALLERY Phil Collins became close the royal family through his work with Prince Charles' charities
According to Us Weekly, the star has revealed that he made not one, but two cardinal sins when he was introduced to the monarch at Prince Charles' 40th birthday in Nov. 1988. "The first is to approach the Queen and introduce myself. One has to wait for the Queen to approach one," he confessed. "I also address her as 'Your highness' instead of 'Your Majesty'. Neither faux pas seems to bother her, and she's quite friendly, referring to me as her son's friend, which tickles me to no end."
The musician has revealed he made two errors in etiquette when meeting the Queen
The musician also shared a chance encounter he had with Princess Diana back in 1991, during a visit to his Harley Street dentist with long-time assistant Danny Gillen in tow. "A BMW pulls up and the window slides down," he said. "It's Diana and sitting in the driver's seat, an officer-class chap I recognized as James Hewitt."
The star has also shared details of a chance encounter he had with Princess Diana
Smiling, the royal asked Phil what he was doing in the area. She then said, "light as you like, 'I've just had a colonoscopy. It was great, you should try it.' Danny and I look at each other. 'Did that really just happen?'"
