Former royal aide opens up about 'heart in mouth' moment after Princess Charlotte's information got leaked

A newly revealed behind-the-scenes moment from Princess Charlotte’s birth in 2015 has shed light on a near-mishap that could have prematurely leaked the news to the media.

Former royal aide Jason Knauf, who served as the communications secretary for Prince William and Princess Kate, has disclosed how he was among the first to learn of Charlotte’s birth—before even the royal couple’s own family. However, what should have been a smooth announcement almost went wrong.

According to Knauf, after receiving details about the newborn princess, he was preparing to draft the official press release when he lost the handwritten note containing key information. “We weren’t going to announce it for another couple of hours, and I had this piece of paper to go write the press release,” Knauf explained. “I was still out there with hundreds of journalists, trying to have a game face, and then I couldn’t find the piece of paper. I think I had dropped it somewhere on the street.”

The missing document included essential details such as Charlotte’s birth time and weight, sparking panic behind the scenes. “It was one of those things, like heart in mouth until we got to the announcement and I got through it,” he recalled. Fortunately, the note was never found by the media, and the official announcement went ahead as planned.

Princess Charlotte was born on May 2, 2015,  at St. Mary’s Hospital, London, and made her first public appearance later that day. She is now fourth in line to the throne, following her father Prince William, and brothers Prince George and Prince Louis.