At a recent interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kate Winslet recounted her unforgettable first encounter with King Charles III during the 1996 royal premiere of Sense and Sensibility in London. The moment—now nearly three decades past—remains vivid for the actress, who candidly shared her nervousness from that day, rightly framing the story of when Kate Winslet meets King Charles.
Winslet’s Surprising Wardrobe Moment at the Royal Premiere
During the February 1996 premiere of Sense and Sensibility, Kate Winslet was just 20 years old and still early in her career when she was invited to a royal occasion attended by the then-Prince Charles. Reflecting on the moment, she noted how she underestimated the formalities of the event and barely prepared for the gravity of her meeting with royalty.
“The first time I met him. Oh my goodness. He had come to support the royal premiere of Sense and Sensibility when I was 20,”
Winslet said on the Tuesday, November 18, episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! — Kate Winslet, Actress
She admitted to being caught off guard by her own fashion choice, unprepared for the direct introduction.
“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,”
the actress continued.
“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.’”
— Kate Winslet, Actress
Developing a Connection with King Charles Over the Years
Since that first memorable meeting, Winslet has crossed paths with King Charles III several times. She is one of the ambassadors for the King’s Foundation, the monarch’s charitable organization dedicated to education and community development. The Titanic star has expressed her admiration for Charles, describing him as a remarkable figure with a sincere commitment to his causes.
“He’s very, very kind and extremely empathetic and very, very generous.”
— Kate Winslet, Actress
Their most recent meeting occurred in June of this year, at the King’s Foundation Awards ceremony hosted at St James’s Palace, where Winslet also shared the stage with other notable guests including David Beckham and Meryl Streep.
Navigating Royal Protocols with Meryl Streep
During her conversation with host Jimmy Kimmel, Winslet shared another recent story, highlighting the uncertainty that often accompanies royal events. Joined by Meryl Streep, 76, the pair wondered whether they would need to perform the customary curtsy upon greeting King Charles.
“There was a conversation about this. So, 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.
“She was like, ‘OK, is it, like, a big curtsy? What do we do?’ I said, ‘I don’t know. We’ll just make the motion.’ She was like, ‘I don’t know if we need to do that.’ There was a big panic. We didn’t know what the form was. Obviously, we had to curtsy.”
— Kate Winslet, Actress
Winslet stepped forward to minimize the anxiety for her fellow Oscar winner.
“Did I go first? I think I did,”
she said, sharing how she often takes initiative in uncertain situations.
“But then I’m always trying to volunteer to go first because I feel like leadership is important and someone has to get it wrong, and it’s usually me that does, so I don’t mind taking the hit.”
— Kate Winslet, Actress
Supporting the King’s Foundation as Ambassador
In June, Kate Winslet was officially named the newest ambassador for the King’s Foundation, a role she accepted in the charity’s 35th anniversary year. Winslet sees her involvement as an extension of her deep interest in environmental and social issues, connecting herself personally to the mission of the foundation and the values King Charles promotes.
“I am delighted to become an Ambassador for The King’s Foundation in the charity’s 35th anniversary year,”
she said in a statement at the time.
“One of my passions is exploring ways that we can protect and promote the natural world – something I have in common with His Majesty! I am therefore thrilled to put this passion into practice by working with The King’s Foundation. I look forward to supporting the charity’s life changing work to build sustainable communities and transform lives into the future.”
— Kate Winslet, Actress
The Ongoing Legacy of Winslet’s Encounters with the British Monarch
Kate Winslet’s recollections offer not only an amusing look at the realities of interacting with royalty but also highlight her lasting partnership with King Charles and the causes he champions. Through her role as an ambassador and her willingness to step up in nerve-wracking moments, Winslet continues to forge meaningful contributions both in and out of the spotlight, setting an example for her peers and supporters of the King’s Foundation. Her stories underscore the emotional depth and subtle positivity surrounding the ongoing interactions between prominent figures in both the arts and public service.
