Prince William has recalled the hilarious moment a fan mistook him for the late musician Prince and asked him to sing one of his biggest hits during an October visit to Somerset. The Prince of Wales shared the story on The Graham Norton Show, explaining how the man expected him to perform 'Purple Rain' before someone stepped in to clear up the misunderstanding.
William, 44, recounted the encounter during his 23 October appearance on the BBC chat show, where he was joined by Cate Blanchett, Hannah Waddingham and Robert Irwin. The royal had visited Sweet Surprise café in Ilminster, Somerset, on 6 October, when the unexpected exchange took place.
Prince William Recalls Being Mistaken for Singer Prince
Describing the encounter, William explained how a man approached him while he was looking around the local community. 'One lovely gentleman looked up at me from his seat and said, "When are you going to sing?"' he recalled.
William said he was initially confused by the question, adding that he had received all sorts of requests over the years. When the man repeated his question about singing, a woman nearby intervened to explain the mix-up.
This is such a funny story about Prince William’s recent visit to Somerset, when someone didn’t recognise him and thought he was Prince the singer 😭😂 pic.twitter.com/5VDy6mkYc5
— Anna (@tokkianami) October 23, 2026
'No, no, he's not that prince,' she reportedly told the man, who had mistaken the royal for the American singer who died in 2016. William then realised that the man had hoped to hear one of Prince's most famous songs.
'It turned out he wanted me to sing "Purple Rain", which I don't know the lyrics for,' William said, prompting laughter from the audience. Released in 1984, the song became one of Prince's signature hits and remains closely associated with the musician's legacy.
Prince - Purple Rain pic.twitter.com/aeRYiEyH2o
— Wouter Ekkelkamp (@Wekkel) August 21, 2024
Prince William's Fan Writes Apology Letter After Mix-Up
The man was later identified as 22-year-old Sebastian Smith, whose mother, Claire, explained the misunderstanding in an interview with The Sun. She revealed that her son was a devoted fan of Prince and knew the singer's songs and lyrics by heart.
'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,' Claire told the publication. She also revealed that Sebastian has Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome, a rare genetic condition that can affect growth and intellectual development.
Man who asked Prince William to sing ‘Purple Rain’ writes letter apologising for mix-up https://t.co/U8vSCam2Yb
— Metro (@MetroUK) October 28, 2026
Sebastian's family helped him write a letter to the Prince of Wales apologising for the mix-up and thanking William for visiting the café. His mother told The Sun: 'We hope he sees it.'
Sweet Surprise provides workplace training for adults with learning disabilities, and William's visit formed part of engagements focused on helping communities prepare for emergencies and extreme weather. The encounter offered a light-hearted moment during the royal's visit to Somerset.
Prince William Previously Sang With Taylor Swift
Although William could not deliver the performance Sebastian had hoped for, the royal has previously taken to the stage alongside some major music stars. In November 2013, he joined Taylor Swift and Jon Bon Jovi for an impromptu rendition of Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer' at a charity gala held at Kensington Palace.
Prince William, Taylor Swift and Jon Bon Jovi singing pic.twitter.com/6PnpKIJmXv
— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) March 25, 2024
The performance took place at the Winter Whites Gala in support of Centrepoint, a charity that works with young people experiencing homelessness. William later reflected on the moment, admitting in 2021 that he still did not know what had come over him when he agreed to sing.
During his recent television appearance, William also revealed that he once considered becoming a DJ, even coming up with the stage name DJ Xara. However, he joked that the idea did not go particularly well, suggesting that a career in music was never quite on the cards for the future king.
