Allison Janney Had an Awkward Moment With Kate Middleton at the BAFTAs

By all accounts, Allison Janney had a grand old time at the BAFTAs on Sunday, Feb. 18. After winning the Best Supporting Actress trophy for her darkly comic role as LaVona Harding in I, Tonya, she also managed to make time to have a chat with Prince William and Kate Middleton in bare feet (because heels are painful, and if anyone can get away with exploring London’s Royal Albert Hall with no shoes on, it’s Allison). Her lack of footwear, however, set a hilarious tone for her encounter with the royals.

“I did meet Kate and William, and she was in her heels and pregnant, so I felt like a bit of a wimp that I was there in my bare feet,” she told James Corden on The Late Late Show on Thursday, Feb. 22. “She was in full on heels, and she was my height when I was in my bare feet, it was kind of extraordinary that she’s that tall,” she added. “I told her that I was in bare feet and I told her that she should take her shoes off cause she’s pregnant. It was an awkward moment.”

kate middleton and allison janney baftas getty images

Allison (left) and Kate (right) at the BAFTAs.

The West Wing star went on to reveal that she accidentally breached royal protocol in her conversation with the Duchess of Cambridge by calling her “honey” rather than the usual royal address of “Your Royal Highness” or “Ma’am.” Allison continued, “That might not have been royal etiquette.” We can’t imagine, though, that Kate took much offense — the excitement of winning a BAFTA would surely make anyone momentarily lose their cool, after all.

After the ceremony, Allison also weighed in on the conversation surrounding Kate’s choice of a green dress rather than a black one. “I would never judge anyone’s choice,” she told Digital Spy. “I think she looked absolutely beautiful, and I’m so happy for her, and I think she’s an extraordinary woman… She can wear whatever she wants to wear.”

This post was written by Katie Rosseinsky. It originally appeared on our sister site, Grazia Daily.

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