‘Reduced me to a heap’: Dawn French recalls awkward encounter with Princess Margaret

Although Dawn French is a highly successful and beloved comedian and actress, she is not immune from the odd awkward encounter now and then.

Such was the case when she met Princess Margaret after performing at a fundraiser at the Royal Opera House alongside fellow comedian Jennifer Saunders.

She recalled the mortifying experience during a recent episode of the Titting About podcast in which she revealed that she met the royal dressed in a comical ballerina costume that featured a fake swan.

“We were told, ‘Stay on the stage, because Princess Margaret is going to come and greet you all’,” French explained.

“I’m standing in the swan costume… black tights, huge black flippers. I’ve got a swan wrapped round me.

“And I’ve got silly pink ballet legs going from my tutu… those are the fake legs… and I’m holding the head of the swan with reins.

“She got to me and she looked at me. I thought she was going to kiss my cheek. Instead she said two words that reduced me to a heap. She just went: ‘How brave’.”

It’s not the first time French has had an embarrassing experience with a member of the Royal Family, the Vicar of Dibley star previously spilled the beans on a hilariously cringe-worthy encounter with King Charles.

The incident left French not only red-faced but with a royal memory she won’t soon forget.

It all unfolded during the star-studded premiere of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in which she played Mrs. Beaver, opposite Ray Winstone who played Mr. Beaver.

As the evening progressed, French found herself engaged in conversation with the then Prince Charles where she couldn’t resist the temptation to share one of her classic risqué jokes.