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Renowned Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins recounts an anecdote in which she believes actor Tom Cruise may have mistaken her for a member of the Royal Family.
The incident reportedly occurred following the mezzo-soprano’s performance at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Concert in 2022.
Jenkins detailed how the action film icon was nearly “body-slammed” against a wall by military personnel in a confined corridor.
As the UK’s best-selling classical artist and a frequent performer for the Royal Family, Jenkins is a familiar face at royal events.
In an interview with The Independent, the Neath-born singer described the backstage encounter with Cruise at the Jubilee concert as a particularly memorable celebrity interaction.
“Tom was being escorted by military personnel on either side as he was walking off,” she stated.
“Because I frequently work with the military, they recognised me.”
“They bowed their heads, saying ‘good evening ma’am,’ and due to the limited space, one of them inadvertently pushed Tom out of the way, nearly slamming him against the wall.”
Jenkins noted that upon their subsequent face-to-face encounter, Cruise offered her “a very strange handshake/nod/bow thing,” leading her to suspect a potential case of mistaken identity.
Cruise’s potential assumption of a royal connection wouldn’t be entirely unfounded, given Jenkins’ regular appearances at Royal Variety Performances.
Following her fifth performance at the Royal Variety Performance in November, the opera singer expressed to Hello! magazine that it was a “huge honour” to perform for the Prince and Princess of Wales.
She also holds a position as a trustee of the British Forces Foundation, with King Charles as its patron, and actively supports the King’s Trust charity.
These affiliations, she noted, provided a sense of “comfort” when receiving her OBE from the King, who was then the Prince of Wales.
“We’ve met on several occasions, making it particularly lovely to receive my OBE from him,” Jenkins remarked.
“It’s nice that we have topics to discuss.”
Jenkins earned a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 17.
Since securing a six-album record deal at 22, she has risen to become one of the most recognizable figures in classical music.
Beyond her performances for royalty, the singer is also known for her stirring renditions of the Welsh national anthem at rugby matches and her performances for the armed forces.
Jenkins divides her time between New York and London with her husband, painter Andrew Levitas, and their two children.
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