Ant McPartlin recalls 'embarrassing' King Charles encounter as he and Dec Donnelly 'scolded'
The TV duo had a sleepover at Dumfries House...British TV duo Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly have opened up about an awkward encounter involving King Charles.
The I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! hosts recalled previously filming a documentary about the king when he was the Prince of Wales.
Ant, 50, admitted feeling “embarrassed” after bumping into Charles whilst wearing a dressing gown as he and Dec, 50, had a sleepover at Dumfries House, a country house in Scotland owned by The King’s Foundation.
Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly’s encounter with King Charles
Speaking on Friday’s edition of The Graham Norton Show, Ant explained: “We were following [the then-Prince] for a year for a TV show and got on really well with him.
“We were asked if we would like to spend the night at the house ahead of the final interview. We were like, ‘Hell, yes.’ It was amazing and everything you’d imagine.”
Ant added: “I tried on the robe that was in my room and ran out into the corridor to find Dec and there was the prince. He said, ‘Hello,’ and started talking to me about pruning roses. I was so embarrassed.”
Dec then laughed: “We then had wine in the room and got a bit noisy. We took it a bit far and were asked to be quiet!”
Ant and Dec’s appearance at the king’s coronation
Ant and Dec may be considered by some in Britain as TV royalty. They’ve also had their fair share of moments with the royal family.
In May 2023, the duo attended King Charles’ coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
I tried on the robe that was in my room and ran out into the corridor to find Dec and there was the prince.
Speaking to ITV News following the ceremony, Ant gushed: “The view was very good by the way. We were here and there was only one row and then he walked past. They [the royals] all walked past.”
Dec added: “The whole thing, just a fantastic day.”
Before the ceremony, Dec had said: “It’s quite surreal, to get the invite through to come to a coronation. I was like, ‘This has got to be a wind up.’ Somebody has surely thought it’s our time to be wound up and this is it.”
TV duo’s meetings with King Charles
Ant and Dec have met the king on a few occasions, too.
Last year, King Charles spoke with the TV presenters during a reception for the winners of The King’s Trust Awards 2025 at Buckingham Palace.
Ant and Dec are both ambassadors for The King’s Trust.
Read more: Queen Camilla issues emotional speech about cancer following King Charles health update
Meanwhile, in 2024, Dec cracked a joke with the king at a different Buckingham Palace reception as he apologised for Ant missing the event.
After the reception, Dec told press: “I passed on Ant’s apology that he couldn’t be here today because he was at home breastfeeding.
“I don’t know whether I broke royal protocol by giving that information.”
Ant had recently became a dad for the first time after welcoming his son, Wilder, with his wife Anne-Marie.
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