American singer Dolly Parton revealed she declined an invitation to have tea with Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, during a promotional trip to London.
The country music star was visiting the United Kingdom to promote her album Rockstar, leaving her with an extremely demanding schedule that prevented her from accepting the royal invitation.
Parton revealed the story in August 2023 during an appearance on presenter Claudia Winkleman's radio show on BBC Radio 2. The singer did not hide her sadness at having to turn down the offer.
Speaking on air, Parton said that she had been invited for tea with Kate and felt so bad that she was unable to go. She emphasized how much she appreciated the gesture from the Princess of Wales, describing it as very sweet and nice of her to reach out. Parton added that she hoped to be able to accept on another occasion, asking if it would not be wonderful to make the meeting happen one of these days.
Busy promotional schedule in London
Parton was in Britain for professional commitments, specifically to promote Rockstar, her first album focused purely on rock music. As she later explained, her schedule allowed for only a single full day without prior engagements, leaving practically no free time for additional meetings.
In a subsequent interview, Parton clarified that she did not want to leave anyone with the impression that she had rejected Kate personally. It was strictly a matter of a scheduling conflict during her trip.
However, the singer also showed her signature sense of humor when discussing the missed tea session. Asked about the invitation, Parton added with a laugh that Kate was not going to promote her rock album, so she had to say no. The comment was clearly intended as a joke, given that she had already expressed her sincere appreciation for the offer and her desire to meet Kate in the future.
Royal connections and Dollywood offer
Parton's connection to the British monarchy began long before receiving the invitation from Kate Middleton. In 1977, the singer met Queen Elizabeth II during celebrations for the monarch's Silver Jubilee, marking 25 years on the throne.
Years after the Jubilee, Parton described meeting the Queen as one of the most significant experiences of her life. She also spoke warmly of Queen Elizabeth II following the monarch's death, with her royal ties remaining a notable element of her long career.
Although the tea meeting with Kate did not take place during her London visit, Parton kept open the possibility of a future encounter. She later proposed an alternative arrangement, suggesting that she would love to host Kate's children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, at Dollywood, her theme park in Tennessee.
