Kate Winslet'S Close Call At Royal Premiere: Her Near Wardrobe Malfunction With King Charles

Kate Winslet's Memorable 1996 Encounter with Royalty

Kate Winslet, the acclaimed Oscar-winning actress, had quite the unexpected moment when she first met King Charles back in 1996 at the premiere of Sense and Sensibility. At only 20 years old, Winslet graced the red carpet in a daring black lace, see-through dress, paired with black sandals and a long coat. Little did she know, this fashion choice nearly resulted in a royal faux pas.

Reflecting on her outfit blunder during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on November 18, Winslet shared her initial disbelief and panic. "The first time I met him. Oh my goodness," she exclaimed, recalling the then-Prince's attendance at the event. "I sort of hadn’t realized we were really going to meet him. So I forgot about the fact that I really was wearing a kind of transparent lace outfit."

“And thank God I’d worn a coat because as he’s making his way towards me, I’m like, ‘Nipples! Nipples! Nipples! Oh, my God.’ And then someone just went, ‘Coat!’ and [I covered myself] and went, ‘Your Majesty.’”

A Royal Reunion: Winslet and Streep at the King's Foundation Awards

Fast forward to June 2025, Winslet had another royal run-in, this time at the King’s Foundation Awards ceremony. Joined by her friend and fellow actress Meryl Streep, the duo faced the royal protocol puzzle together. "There was a conversation about this," Winslet revealed to host Jimmy Kimmel, laughing over their shared confusion about curtsying.

"Meryl and I, as we were walking to meet the king, she says to me, 'Do you think we have to curtsy?' And I said, 'Absolutely, we have to curtsy,'" Winslet recounted. Streep then questioned whether the curtsy needed to be grand or subtle, leading to a comical exchange between the two seasoned stars. "Obviously, we had to curtsy. Did I go first? I think I did," Winslet chuckled, admitting her usual eagerness to lead and possibly misstep first.