Prince William recalls being asked to sing Purple Rain at Somerset cafe

A man who mistakenly identified Prince William as the late singer Prince has written an apology letter to the royal, according to the Daily Mail ^[1]. The mix-up occurred during a visit to Sweet Surprise cafe in Ilminster, Somerset, where Sebastian Smith, 22, believed the heir to the throne was the pop icon he idolises.

Prince William revealed the amusing encounter during his appearance on The Graham Norton Show last Friday, the BBC reported ^[2]. He told the studio audience that a 'lovely gentleman' asked him when he was going to sing, specifically requesting the 1984 hit 'Purple Rain'. William admitted he did not know the lyrics, turning the moment into a humorous anecdote shared with Hollywood stars Cate Blanchett and Robert Irwin.

Sebastian’s family stepped forward to clarify the incident, as the Mirror noted ^[3]. His mother, Claire, explained that Sebastian has no idea who Prince William is, but is a massive fan of the singer Prince and knows all his lyrics. She stated that when William arrived, Sebastian innocently assumed it was the musician.

Sebastian, who has Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, has now penned a letter to the Prince, thanking him for the visit and apologising for the confusion. The note, sent to Kensington Palace, is signed 'lots of love – Sebastian'. His parents said he is enjoying the attention and that their phones went crazy after the broadcast aired.

The cafe provides workplace training for adults with learning difficulties, and Sebastian is an adult learner there. His mother highlighted his remarkable abilities, noting he can count to ten in six languages and plays the piano. Sweet Surprise owner Jane Morgan described the royal visit as an honour, noting that William took the misunderstanding in stride and joked with the learners.