Man Who Mistook Prince William for Singer Prince Writes Apology Letter After Hilarious Royal Mix-Up

A visit from Prince William turned into an unforgettable moment for 22-year-old Sebastian Smith, who was convinced the royal guest was actually the legendary singer Prince. Now, with help from his family, Sebastian is putting pen to paper to apologise for the amusing misunderstanding.

The Prince of Wales, 44, shared the story during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show last Friday, recalling how a well-meaning man approached him with an unexpected question: when was he going to sing?

William soon discovered that the man was hoping to hear Purple Rain, one of Prince’s best-known hits.

“It turned out he wanted me to sing Purple Rain, which I don’t know the lyrics for,” William explained, laughing about the encounter.

The story has since taken a heartwarming turn, with Sebastian’s family revealing more about what happened and their plans to send a letter to the future king at Kensington Palace.

Why Sebastian Thought Prince William Was the Music Legend

The encounter took place earlier this month at Sweet Surprise cafe in Ilminster, Somerset, where Sebastian met the royal visitor.

Sweet Surprise provides workplace education for adults with learning difficulties. Sebastian, who has Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, is among those who benefit from the programme.

According to his mother, Claire, Sebastian may not have recognised William as the Prince of Wales, but he certainly knew the musician he believed had walked through the door.

“To be honest, I don’t think Sebastian had any idea who Prince William was — but he’s a massive fan of Prince the singer and can list all his songs and knows all the lyrics,” she said.

“Considering his learning difficulties, it is amazing.

“So when Prince William arrived at Sweet Surprise, Sebastian assumed it was Prince the singer!”

Sebastian’s enthusiasm for the late American musician appears to have made the mix-up all the more understandable. A devoted fan, he knows Prince’s songs and lyrics in remarkable detail, making the prospect of meeting his musical hero an exciting one.

Unfortunately for Sebastian, the visitor was the Prince of Wales rather than the man behind Purple Rain.

A Letter to Kensington Palace

Following the story’s public outing on television, Sebastian’s family decided to help him write directly to William.

Claire confirmed that they had worked together on a letter explaining the misunderstanding and offering an apology.

“We’ve helped Sebastian write a letter to Prince William,” she said.

The letter also thanks the royal for visiting Sweet Surprise and acknowledges Sebastian’s mistaken identity.

“In it, he thanks William for visiting and has apologised for mistaking him for Prince,” Claire explained.

“We hope he sees it.”

William’s account of the encounter has given the public a glimpse of a lighter moment from his royal engagements, while Sebastian’s family’s response has added a personal touch to the story.

For Sebastian, the mix-up came from a genuine love of music. And although he may not have met the singer he had in mind, his unexpected encounter with Prince William has now become a memorable story in its own right.