Former Made in Chelsea star Sophie Habboo has revealed she was left "mortified" after repeatedly breaching royal protocol during an encounter with King Charles at Buckingham Palace last month.
The incident occurred at the annual King's Trust Awards ceremony on June 26, where Habboo and her husband, Jamie Laing, joined celebrities including George Clooney and his wife, Amal, Dame Joanna Lumley, and Dec Donnelly.
Despite being instructed to wait for the King to offer his hand first, Habboo repeatedly extended hers as the monarch greeted guests, leaving her embarrassed by the protocol blunder.
The pair had already caused a stir during their visit to the Palace by filming themselves recreating Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's famous "Baby Mama" dance on the Grand Staircase, breaching rules against photography inside Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace guest left 'mortified' after breaking royal protocol with King Charles.
Getty / Instagram via Jamie Laing
Speaking on their Nearly Parents podcast, Laing recounted the awkward moment in detail. "He kept looking towards Sophie. And as soon as he went towards Sophie, Sophie put her hand up -- five times," he explained.
The 36-year-old described how his pregnant wife grew increasingly desperate with each failed attempt.
"And then what happened was, the last time he turned towards Sophie, she put out her hand -- she didn't withdraw it. She just held it there. She just held it there and didn't move it," Laing revealed.
Habboo admitted she "thought I was missing my opportunity" and found herself "buckling" under pressure.
Jamie Laing, Sophie Habboo and King Charles at Buckingham Palace.
Instagram / Jamie Laing
When Habboo finally greeted the King, he responded graciously despite the protocol breach.
The monarch enquired about Laing's recent sporting achievement, asking whether he had recovered from his ultramarathon challenge.
The King was referencing Laing's Ultra Marathon Man effort for Comic Relief, which saw him run from London to Salford, completing an ultramarathon each day over five consecutive days.
The incident was captured by a Netflix production team who were filming at the event.
Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo posted a video poking fun at the Sussexes.Instagram / Jamie LaingLATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo are currently expecting their first child.Instagram / Jamie LaingA subsequent photograph showed King Charles appearing to chuckle at the couple whilst greeting guests, with Laing suggesting the image was taken after Habboo's repeated handshake attempts.
The star-studded ceremony also included beauty mogul Charlotte Tilbury, Joseph Fiennes and Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway, who was in Habboo's group when the incident occurred.
The couple first met whilst appearing on Channel 4's Made in Chelsea in 2017, confirming their romantic relationship several years later.
They married in 2023 and recently announced they are expecting their first child.
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