Billie Eilish says she broke royal protocol when she met King Charles III

There are some traditional greetings that often go hand-in-hand with meeting a member of the royal family, but all of those went out of the window when Billie Eilish was introduced to some royals last year.

The 'Bad Guy' singer came face-to-face with the UK's new King, Charles, as well as Prince William and Kate Middleton last year, when they all gathered in London for the premiere of the latest James Bond film, No Time to Die.

Eilish, who also sings the song 'No Time To Die' for the film, was at the event with her brother Finneas and other famous faces, such as Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and had tried to prepare for meeting the royals by doing her homework on official greetings.

In spite of her efforts, things apparently went awry as soon as the royals came in:

Eilish recalled the meeting an interview with Australian breakfast radio show hosts Fitzy and Wippa, telling the pair she had been 'studying' and was ready to drop into a curtsey when meeting the future King, rather than offering him, Prince William and Kate a handshake.

"I was so worried about it, I was like 'I'm not going to know how to do it'," Eilish recalled. "We though it was big, like it had to be these rules."

In spite of all her worrying, Eilish revealed on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live the royals turned out to be 'so normal'.

In her interview with Fitzy and Wippa, she recalled how then-Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate came in and casually offered handshakes while asking the group how they were.

"Which was great, they were just so nice," Eilish said.

PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

The singer told Kimmel the royals didn't make her feel like she couldn't talk to them, saying: "They were complimentary, and they had all these questions for me. They were just very friendly, and like, funny and sweet. I can’t complain. It was amazing.”

Though Eilish was determined to follow the 'rules' for meeting the royal family, a post on the official website for the royals explains there are 'no obligatory codes of behaviour' for encounters.

However, 'many people wish to observe the traditional forms', it explains, including men offering a 'neck bow' from the head, while women 'do a small curtsy'.

"Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way," it continues.

Eilish indicated she and her brother, Finneas, had been 'briefed' on how to meet the royals, suggesting she did have some guidance to follow, but at least she has the royal website on her side if anyone gives her any grief for the exchange in future.

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]