Prince William snubbed by Keir Starmer as PM sits next to his schoolboy crush
Prince William just suffered a painfully awkward royal snub — and it happened right under the glittering chandeliers of Windsor Castle. As the State Banquet unfolded tonight, all eyes were on one surprising seating choice: Prime Minister Keir Starmer was placed beside Claudia Schiffer… not Prince William, despite the supermodel famously being William’s childhood crush.
For the future king, it must’ve been a full-circle moment with a sting. In the 2017 documentary Diana, Our Mother, William admitted he once came home from school to find Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, and Christy Turlington waiting to surprise him.
He recalled turning “bright red,” fumbling over his words, and nearly falling down the stairs — the confession that turned him into every awkward teenage boy ever.
Fast-forward to tonight: Claudia Schiffer returned as an honoured guest at the royal banquet… but seated next to the Prime Minister instead of the prince who once had posters of her on his bedroom wall.
The star-studded evening also welcomed Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse, legendary composer Hans Zimmer, Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler, and German footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger — who once played for Prince William’s beloved Aston Villa.
Guests feasted on a lavish, French-written menu: smoked trout tartlets, Windsor partridge in puff pastry, winter vegetables, and a dramatic baked Alaska finale. Four wines accompanied the meal, topped off with a Black Forest gâteau–inspired cocktail.
In a historic first, a towering six-metre Christmas tree stood at the end of the banquet table, forcing the palace to shorten the table by two metres and limit seating to 152 guests.
A magical night for most — but for William? Definitely a reminder of the one that got away… at least at the dinner table.
