“I Fell Under Her Spell”: Reese Witherspoon Recalls Her Starstruck Meeting With Kate Middleton

Whether it’s watching our favorite singer belt a song out on stage or running into a famous person on the street or a restaurant, we’ve all had that moments when we’ve felt breath-catching, jaw-dropping, starstruck. But what happens with the stars become starstruck?

Successful, beautiful and delightfully charming, no one would ever believe that Reese Witherspoon would would have stars in her eyes for another celebrity. But in her book, Whiskey in a Teacup, the 47-year-old Oscar-winning actress revealed that when she had the chance to meet Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton during a visit to the United States in 2011, she was more than just a little excited. 

Witherspoon was one of a select few invited to rub elbows with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at a Los Angeles fundraiser, and when it came down to meeting the young royals, Witherspoon reacted the way any normal person would. “The scream that issued from my lips upon receiving [the invitation] — you would have thought I was going to die,” she said.

Reese Was Bursting with Excitement

Reese goes on to describe the level of her devotion: “I wake up early, mind you, but on that day I was up at 4 a.m. doing my hair. That’s early, even for me. ‘I’ve never seen you this excited,’ my husband said. He wasn’t kidding.” Reese went on to say that her then-husband, Jim Toth, took photos of her in the car en route to the event, admitting that you can see “rays of happiness” shooting out of her face.

“I love Kate Middleton that much,” Reese shares. “And she did not disappoint! She was just lovely and warm, elegant and composed. She also told a joke, and I immediately fell under her spell. She’s just as magnificent as she seems to be. She’s a very compassionate, socially conscious, deeply caring person.”

Kate’s Big Heart Serves as Inspiration

In recent days, Kate has made headlines for her role in the Shaping Us campaign she leads, from The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. According to the Royal Foundation’s site, “The way we develop, through our experiences, relationships, and surroundings during our early childhood, fundamentally shapes our whole lives,” says Kate. “It affects everything from our ability to form relationships and thrive at work, to our mental and physical well-being as adults and the way we parent our own children.”

In June, the Princess paid a visit to Maidenhead Rugby Club, where she not only showed off her skills on the rugby field, but spoke with men about their childhood and the importance of the first five years of a child’s life, People reported.

Kate’s life and title has changed drastically since her and Reese’s initial meeting in 2011. In the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, Kate went from Duchess of Cambridge to Princess of Wales. And with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping back from the royal family, Prince William and Princess Kate have taken on even more responsibility in the past year.

Reese Also Finds Joy In Giving Back

The Legally Blonde star has also praised the royal mother of three for her composure and strength as one of the most watched women in the world. “What’s more, it takes a very special person to decide to commit to that kind of life, to choose to be under public scrutiny every moment,” Reese said. “Now that she’s in that position, her entire life is in service, forever. I am so in awe of that kind of dedication.”

Kate, however, isn’t the only one among this duo with a passion for serving others. Reese Witherspoon has publicly shown support for various charities and initiatives, much like Kate. One of her most recent endeavors was with the nonprofit, Step Up, and her involvement and investment in the organization provides girls in the Nashville community with educational and mentorship opportunities across three public schools.

It looks like this duo has more in common than you’d think!