She Tried To Stop The Future King From Entering.
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64361)
United Kingdom
September 25, 2016 1:11pm CST
I have a part time job at the racecourse, and one day one of my co-workers was guilty of an amusing gaffe.
To get into the races you have to have a ticket, which can either be pre-purchased online or bought on the spot. My job is to sell these latter, and then the customer has to have the ticket scanned at the entry gate.
My friend was operating one of these hand-held scanners when Prince William turned up with his retinue. He will be King of England one day, but she didn't recognise him and asked him for his ticket. He said "Oh, do I have to have a ticket?" She politely said " Sorry, but you won't get in without one".
At this point one of the management saw what was happening and went over and waved him through, as the visit was pre-arranged. My friend was embarrassed but said to the Prince "it was nice to meet you anyway", and he touched her on the shoulder and laughingly said "It was good to meet you too".
He seems a thoroughly nice young man.
Have you ever failed to recognise that someone famous has crossed your path?
79 people like this
81 responses
@topffer (42156)
• France
25 Sep 16
I do not understand why a prince should not pay a ticket like anyone
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I would have several anecdotes to tell about famous people and their family. I will tell you one : in the 1990's after a public conference for the release of a collective book, a signing session had been organized at the end. Someone told us that 1 sister-in-law of President Mitterrand, which was our president at this time was queuing for signatures, so when a woman told me that her name was "Mitterrand" I was not very surprised. I asked her innocently : "How do you spell it ?" She laughed and told me : "with 2 't' and 2 'r'". She took it with humor, but some others with less known names have glared at me when I was doing this innocent joke.
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I would have several anecdotes to tell about famous people and their family. I will tell you one : in the 1990's after a public conference for the release of a collective book, a signing session had been organized at the end. Someone told us that 1 sister-in-law of President Mitterrand, which was our president at this time was queuing for signatures, so when a woman told me that her name was "Mitterrand" I was not very surprised. I asked her innocently : "How do you spell it ?" She laughed and told me : "with 2 't' and 2 'r'". She took it with humor, but some others with less known names have glared at me when I was doing this innocent joke.7 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
25 Sep 16
@jaboUK Then it would be unfair to ask to a guest to pay
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I suppose that a prince receives a lot of invites, and that he cannot go everywhere, so it is a honor to welcome him.
The family of Pdt Mitterrand was protected by the police like the members of your royal family. I suppose that it is the same for the family of our actual president.
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I suppose that a prince receives a lot of invites, and that he cannot go everywhere, so it is a honor to welcome him.
The family of Pdt Mitterrand was protected by the police like the members of your royal family. I suppose that it is the same for the family of our actual president.4 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
25 Sep 16
I almost did but my younger sister told me just ntime when this nic e elderly man smiled and said Hello how are you to me as we were comiong out of the thjeatre on Ldo Island He was Jeb iln the ?beverly Hill billies show on ?V. such a nice friendly man for a movoer star
7 people like this
that makes 2 of us 
.......... I think I'll be stayin in on Halloween
@DianneN (246751)
• United States
25 Sep 16
What a story! That has happened so many times to me. There are many actors and screenwriters that live in my town, and of course, I have been in elevators and crossed streets with the famous and infamous not knowing until after the fact. Then again, I have had dinners with some famous actors, newscasters, and sports figures. They are all people like us, but 100 notches above! 
6 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
25 Sep 16
The thing is, it seems like he's in the headlines everyday, and that's just over here. How can you not recognize him?
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
25 Sep 16
@teamfreak16 It does defy belief, and believe me she has been teased unmercifully about it ever since
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
26 Sep 16
That's not happened to me yet
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
26 Sep 16
@jaboUK at least you can now say you saw them perform
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
26 Sep 16
@arthurchappell I didn't actually - I have no interest in that sort of entertainment, so once it starts I've done my job and I'm on my way home.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
26 Sep 16
@arthurchappell The only time it happens to me is when they hold concerts after racing, and the performers are pop stars of the day. They walk by me and have no idea they are famous until someone points them out.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (458088)
• Switzerland
26 Sep 16
Very funny story. Yes, it happened to us when we lived in Monte-Carlo. My husband was driving and in front of us there was an old man in a Mercedes who proceeded so slowly that made him nervous. He klaxoned and then decided to overtake the Mercedes. When I turned my head I saw that the driver was Prince Rainier. I was so embarrassed that I decide to wave my hand so he could think we only wanted to salute him.
2 people like this
@xFiacre (12595)
• Ireland
25 Sep 16
@jabouk !!! I was at a local boxing club for reasons too complicated to explain and was the VIP opening it (they couldn't afford royalty). I care nothing for boxing and am totally ignorant in that department but I tried to talk to people and moved over to one person in a track suit and asked, "Do you do a bit of boxing yourself?" It was Barry McGuigan, at the time World Featherweight champion. How was I supposed to know? He didn't seem to see the funny side of it, especially since we then had to pose together in the ring for a newspaper.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
15 Mar 17
@jaboUK Sorry I have to say this. As much as I think he is a wonderful young man...but...he is rich as hell. Do the rich and royalty really need to get free passes all the time? Ugh I know I sound like a grouch but it's a genuine thought and question. As good as he is, lovely, kind, compassionate, hard working, just like his beautiful mum but again, the dude can afford to get in.
Like I get it. He is Prince and it's a sign of respect to give him freebies but still.......it's something that has bothered me for a very long time. Even a President can get into anything for free I'm sure but again, he is also rich as hell. So....why not just pay?
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
15 Mar 17
@VivaLaDani13 It's down to respect and economics. The respect because he's royal, the economics because just having him attend an event will pull crowds of paying people in, thus boosting the coffers of the event organisers. Make sense?
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
16 Mar 17
@jaboUK ah ok Yeah that makes more sense now. Thank you for explaining. 
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
26 Sep 16
That was nice of the future king , usually celebrities have a "don't you know who I am "attitude
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
26 Sep 16
@responsiveme In my experience, the people who are real aristocrats, i.e. those who are born to it, are often nice genuine people. It's the 'Johnny come lately' celebrities who are full of their own importance.
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
26 Sep 16
@jaboUK same with truly intelligent professors , they are so willing to talk to you and no airs when I meet them at conferences and seminars.
1 person likes this
@5thHouse (1678)
• Sheffield, England
25 Sep 16
I once saw one half of Ant & Dec at Luton airport -- yes, amazingly just one of them. I thought they were joined at the hip. I embarrassed the kids by shouting out, "It's Dec!" when he walked past us, but of courese it was Ant.. I always mix their names up.
3 people like this
@5thHouse (1678)
• Sheffield, England
25 Sep 16
@jaboUK The kids couldn't understand how I could have any confusion about which was which. I thought they were going to disown me. (Since that day I have referred to them as 'Ant or Dec'). He was very miserable actually, Ant. He made no eye contact with us at all. Maybe he thought we might demand he pose for a selfie.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
29 Sep 16
@KnehKnah Even in places as far away as the Philippines he would be recognised, as you say. In her defence, as soon as she looked at him properly she did know who he was, but she was concentrating on the tickets.
Nice to see you again KnehKnah.
. In her defence, as soon as she looked at him properly she did know who he was, but she was concentrating on the tickets.
Nice to see you again KnehKnah.1 person likes this
@KnehKnah (3584)
• Philippines
29 Sep 16
I understand her now, my dear Momma @jaboUK . Was too engrossed with her task so she did not focus on his face. But, even if I didn't know he was Prince William, just the sight of his aura will surely stop me from doing or thinking about anything! He is so extremely handsome & gorgeous!
Anyway, opo, thank you, but my apologies again. I'm here just like christmas lights: now you see me, now you don't.
Ha! Ha! Ha!
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21737)
• Canada
26 Sep 16
I could probably trip over any number of famous people and not recognize them. I'm not much of a celebrity watcher.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
26 Sep 16
@Morleyhunt The same here - I especially wouldn't know any film stars or pop stars.
1 person likes this
@asfarasiknow (3341)
• Bournemouth, England
26 Sep 16
No, I'm pretty good at spotting famous people, even from a.distance.It must be interesting working at a racecourse. I have only ever visited Salisbury a few times and Wincanton.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
26 Sep 16
@asfarasiknow It is a nice job - its only part time and fits in nicely with my life.
I've been to both the courses you mention, in fact I've been to all the racecourses in Britain bar four.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
26 Sep 16
@asfarasiknow I used to work with racehorses, and then I was 17 years taking bets on the Tote.
1 person likes this
@asfarasiknow (3341)
• Bournemouth, England
26 Sep 16
@jaboUK So more than 50 then? Remarkable!
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23233)
• Bangalore, India
27 Sep 16
His reply was of a good young man. I have known people of much smaller stature than him become arrogant at being refused. "How dare you?" kind of thing. Even going as far as too get a person to lose their jobs using their connections. 
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
27 Sep 16
@Daljinder Yes, his response was admirable. He'll be a fine king one day.
1 person likes this
