There's a rigorous protocol regarding interacting with members of the Royal Family. Yet simultaneously, it's remarkably straightforward to nervously blurt out the first thought that enters your mind when you're genuinely faced with a royal in person.

That's the situation musician and actress Paloma Faith encountered when she was presented to Prince William and Princess Catherine in a receiving line following her performance at the 2023 Royal Variety Performance.

Speaking on her Mad, Sad and Bad podcast this week, Paloma revealed that she discovered herself discussing Catherine's weight and how she had succeeded in bouncing back into shape following the birth of Prince Louis.

She recalled: "I said, 'Didn't you look good postpartum, Kate. How have you lost that weight so quickly?' Before going on to chat to the princess about kids and stuff."

However, Paloma was experiencing mounting discomfort as it occurred to her that discussing a future Queen's weight might not be entirely appropriate.

In her desperation to conclude the conversation promptly, Paloma turned towards the next individual in the lineup, comedienne Rosie Jones, and succeeded in committing a second blunder.

Exploiting Rosie's ataxic cerebral palsy, a condition caused by damage to the developing brain's motor control centres that can affect a person's balance and speech, Paloma spotted the chance for a swift getaway: "I looked at her and said, 'Can we just say that, because you're disabled, we have to go, and you need me to help you?'

"Then everyone was, like, 'Rosie said she needs Paloma to take her because of the stairs'."

Paloma sheepishly admitted that Rosie "helped me in a very non-PC way by allowing me to abuse and use her disability to get myself out of a potentially uncomfortable situation with some Royal Family members."

The awkward encounter doesn't appear to have damaged Paloma's relationship with the royals, however, as Princess Catherine extended an invitation for her to perform at her Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey the following year.

Paloma recently revealed the arrival of her third child, expressing her gratitude to the medical team who supported her through the "painful" birth: "On Friday March 6th I had my third baby, a little boy," she wrote.

Paloma, 44, continued:"He was a bit early and ended up in the NICU for three days. The midwives and team around me were incredible."

She added: "Just taking it all slow. C sections ARE PAINFUL! He's perfect and wonderful. Breastfeeding is hard!" Her post received an instant reaction from her fellow cast members of The Celebrity Traitors. Host Claudia Winkleman commented: "Massive congratulations, brilliant news. All love," while Alan Carr chimed in: "Oh how wonderful. Congratulations darling!"