Roman Kemp Terrified Meeting Queen Camilla At BBC Event

Roman Kemp, a prominent media personality, shared his experience of meeting Queen Camilla, confessing he felt "terrified" during the encounter due to uncertainties surrounding royal protocol. The 32-year-old attended Buckingham Palace earlier this month to present the prestigious grand finale of the BBC's 500 Words competition, which aims to inspire young authors between the ages of five and 11. Roman co-hosted the event with fellow BBC presenter Alex Jones, marking an important occasion in the children's literary calendar.

Despite having attended multiple royal engagements, Roman revealed on the podcast FFS! My Dad is Martin Kemp that he was anxious and unsure about the proper etiquette when meeting the Queen. "I've been privileged enough that you meet the Queen, or King, or royals, and they sometimes give you a briefing as to what you should do. But now they’ve kind of got rid of that," he admitted, underscoring the ambiguity of modern royal interactions.

In preparation for the meeting, Roman sought advice from his father, Martin Kemp, who suggested that he would simply "bow his head". However, Roman clarified a significant change in protocol: "You don’t anymore. This is what terrified me. I don’t know if you’re meant to put your hand out first to go to shake their hand or wait. And I forgot. I just put my hand out. Meeting the Queen the other day, and I just thought it was the wrong idea, because she looked at me and was a bit like, 'no'.”

The encounter with Queen Camilla proved to be a blend of anxiety and intrigue for Roman. Camilla, known for her warm demeanor, "did hug and kiss" some members of Roman's group, which added another layer of confusion to royal expectations. In addition, Roman revealed an interesting tidbit about interacting with Queen Camilla directly: you’re "not allowed" to hand her a microphone. Instead, he had to hold it for her while she spoke, which led to a comical mishap.

"I nearly hit her in the face. I was shaking that much. Honestly, I was shaking," Roman recounted, giving listeners a vivid picture of the nerves that accompany such high-profile meetings. The task of mic holder had previously been declined by Romesh Ranganathan, last year's host of the 500 Words competition, which left Roman under pressure from those around him. "I only did it because everyone was pressuring me," he confessed.

Roman's father, Martin, observed that being in the presence of royalty carries inherent pressure. He commented, "There is pressure when you meet the royals though," providing insight into the shared experience many have when placed in a similar situation.

In contrast to the nerves of meeting Queen Camilla, Roman reflected fondly on a more informal encounter with royalty. He shared that Princess Kate had visited his home as part of a mental health campaign. Recollecting this event, he said, "We had one come to our house, Princess Kate came to our house. That was one of the most surreal days.” Martin chimed in, praising Princess Kate, stating simply, "She was lovely though," highlighting a softer side to royal interactions.

The experiences shared by Roman Kemp paint a vivid picture of the challenges and nuances involved in meeting members of the British royal family. His candid revelations about feeling "terrified" and confused about what is expected are relatable for many, and they reveal that even those familiar with public life can feel the weight of protocol in such prestigious settings. As the tradition of the monarchy evolves, insights from across the spectrum of engagements continue to remind the public of the delicate balance required in royal encounters.

Overall, Roman's narrative is not just about one anxious moment in time but encapsulates the intrigue and societal expectations surrounding the royal family, inviting audiences to consider how such encounters resonate beyond the immediate experience.