It was one of last year's more colourful stories – but reports that Princess Beatrice accidentally cut the face of Ed Sheeran with a ceremonial sword were entirely made up, according to James Blunt. It was claimed that the incident took place at a party at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, home of Beatrice's father Prince Andrew. James was said to have joked that he wanted a knighthood, and persuaded the royal to 'knight' him. But while swinging back the sword, the Princess caught Ed on the face, leaving him with a cut that needed stitches and also left a scar.
© Photo: RexJames Blunt has said he and Ed Sheeran made up the Princess Beatrice 'knighting' story
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Now James has revealed that the whole story was a fabrication. "Ed was drunk, messing around and he cut himself," the 43-year-old told Shortlist. "We made a fancy story up; people fell for it. It was very embarrassing." Asked how much of the story had been invented, he replied: "All of it. Apart from the actual scar. It's bizarre that people fell for it." James joked: "I blame him. He must be desperate – he's trying to sell records. He cut himself and I just patched him up. It's made him look prettier."
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe two singers - pictured in 2015 - have been friends for a number of years
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James had previously suggested the knighting story was made up during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show last month. "If he [Ed] said his face got cut while she was 'knighting' me then dashed to A&E before returning to the party, then he is a liar," the singer told the chat show host. "For a start, she is a princess and would be rehearsed and practiced in these matters, and given the NHS waiting lists it would have been impossible to get to hospital and back so quickly."
