After missing out on a chance to have tea with the Princess of Wales in 2023, Dolly Parton hopes to host her and members of the Royal Family at Dollywood this Thanksgiving. The country music icon could not make it to Buckingham Palace last year amid a busy schedule promoting her Rockstar album at the time.
She hopes to make things up with a delicious menu and lots of fun for the royal children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Although Kate Middleton and her husband Prince William have yet to acknowledge her invitation, Dolly has started making big plans to receive them already.
Did Dolly Parton regret turning down the royal invitation?
Dolly admitted to feeling bad about her absence at Buckingham Palace; however, she justified her choice with a joke that Kate would not have promoted her album. She recalled seeing British royals as ultrarich people from another world as a child, but meeting Queen Elizabeth II in 1977 made her see a “sweet” side to the monarch.
The 78-year-old promises to let George, Charlotte, and Louis on all the rides at Dollywood, while treating Kate to her iconic mashed potatoes among other Thanksgiving delicacies. Speaking of the upcoming holiday, Dolly released a cookbook titled Good Lookin’ Cookin’ with her sister Rachel Parton George, and it contains over 80 recipes fans can recreate for their dinner spread.
Dolly Parton recalls her visit to the royal palace
Dolly admitted she was nervous about defaulting on protocols like her curtsy when meeting the late Queen at her silver jubilee; however, she became less anxious upon realizing the monarch did not care for formalities.
After the Queen’s passing in 2022, Dolly shared a photo of their meeting in the ‘70s alongside a heartfelt tribute. It is unlikely that Princess Kate will be present at Dollywood this year, as she has just gone through a tough year dealing with cancer and multiple chemotherapy sessions.