Princess Charlotte's Birth Almost Leaked Early After Key Document Went Missing, Former Aide Reveals

Mar. 15, 2025

From left: Princess Charlotte, Kate Middleton and Prince William outside St. Mary’s Hospital in London on May 2, 2015.Photo:Anwar Hussein/WireImage

Anwar Hussein/WireImage

Lots of thought goes into a royal birth announcement, butPrincess Charlotte’s arrival in 2015 narrowly avoided an early leak to the press.Former royal aide Jason Knauf revealed his near-mishap in an interview with60 Minutes Australiathat aired on Feb. 23, recalling whenKate MiddletonandPrince Williamwere about to welcome their daughter in 2015.“You know, you have hundreds and hundreds of journalists and photographers from all over the world that arrive in London, camping outside trying to get their spot,” he said. “Meanwhile behind the scenes, you have a very pregnant member of the royal family and her husband who are trying to get their lives organized for the arrival of a different child.“Knauf was one of the first people in the world to learn of Princess Charlotte’s arrival, and he got a note with the details of her birth.“We weren’t going to announce it for another couple of hours, and I had this piece of paper to go write this press release,” he said. “I’m still out there with hundreds of journalists trying to have a game face, and then I couldn’t find the piece of paper, and I think I had dropped it somewhere on the street.““Which we managed to get through, but not announce it,” Knauf continued. “But somewhere on that street the entire time was a piece of paper that said there had been a little princess born, what time and how much she weighed.“Although Knauf “never found” the paper, he said, “Neither did any of the media though, so that’s all that really mattered.“Instead, Princess Charlotte’s birth announcement went as planned, with Prince William and Kate giving the world the first glimpse of their new addition on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital in London on May 2, the same day she was born. She arrived at 8:34 a.m. weighing 8-lb, 3 oz.From left: Princess Charlotte, Prince William and Kate Middleton outside St. Mary’s Hospital in London on May 2, 2015.Zak Hussein/Corbis via GettyA few days after her arrival, the parents shared her name: Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, with her middle names paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana.The Prince and Princess of Wales are now parents of three:Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, now 9, andPrince Louis, 6.Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!The scene outside St. Mary’s Hospital in London following Princess Charlotte’s birth on May 2, 2015.Ian Gavan/GettyKnauf told60 Minutessaid Prince William and Princess Kate are focused on “how they’re going to prepare their children for life in the public eye.""[William’s] childhood in front of the media was quite difficult at times. He knew that he was going to be raising his kids with social media and mobile phones and all of that stuff,” Knauf continued, adding that he’s seen the “worried mom and dad behind the scenes.“Knauf was a communications secretary to Prince William and Princess Kate as well as Prince Harry andMeghan Markle, eventually becoming the role of chief executive of the Prince and Princess of Wales' Royal Foundation. After leaving the royal household in 2021, he continues to serve on theboard of trusteesfor Prince William’s Earthshot Prize.Prince William and Kate Middleton with their children at Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024.Samir Hussein/WireImageIn his new interview, Knauf also spoke about Prince Williamlearning of his father King Charles and his wife Princess Kate’s cancer diagnoseswithin weeks of each other as well asWilliam’s ongoing rift with his brother, Prince Harry.

Lots of thought goes into a royal birth announcement, butPrincess Charlotte’s arrival in 2015 narrowly avoided an early leak to the press.

Former royal aide Jason Knauf revealed his near-mishap in an interview with60 Minutes Australiathat aired on Feb. 23, recalling whenKate MiddletonandPrince Williamwere about to welcome their daughter in 2015.

“You know, you have hundreds and hundreds of journalists and photographers from all over the world that arrive in London, camping outside trying to get their spot,” he said. “Meanwhile behind the scenes, you have a very pregnant member of the royal family and her husband who are trying to get their lives organized for the arrival of a different child.”

Knauf was one of the first people in the world to learn of Princess Charlotte’s arrival, and he got a note with the details of her birth.

“We weren’t going to announce it for another couple of hours, and I had this piece of paper to go write this press release,” he said. “I’m still out there with hundreds of journalists trying to have a game face, and then I couldn’t find the piece of paper, and I think I had dropped it somewhere on the street.”

“Which we managed to get through, but not announce it,” Knauf continued. “But somewhere on that street the entire time was a piece of paper that said there had been a little princess born, what time and how much she weighed.”

Although Knauf “never found” the paper, he said, “Neither did any of the media though, so that’s all that really mattered.”

Instead, Princess Charlotte’s birth announcement went as planned, with Prince William and Kate giving the world the first glimpse of their new addition on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital in London on May 2, the same day she was born. She arrived at 8:34 a.m. weighing 8-lb, 3 oz.

From left: Princess Charlotte, Prince William and Kate Middleton outside St. Mary’s Hospital in London on May 2, 2015.Zak Hussein/Corbis via Getty

Zak Hussein/Corbis via Getty

A few days after her arrival, the parents shared her name: Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, with her middle names paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are now parents of three:Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, now 9, andPrince Louis, 6.

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

The scene outside St. Mary’s Hospital in London following Princess Charlotte’s birth on May 2, 2015.Ian Gavan/Getty

Ian Gavan/Getty

Knauf told60 Minutessaid Prince William and Princess Kate are focused on “how they’re going to prepare their children for life in the public eye.”

“[William’s] childhood in front of the media was quite difficult at times. He knew that he was going to be raising his kids with social media and mobile phones and all of that stuff,” Knauf continued, adding that he’s seen the “worried mom and dad behind the scenes.”

Knauf was a communications secretary to Prince William and Princess Kate as well as Prince Harry andMeghan Markle, eventually becoming the role of chief executive of the Prince and Princess of Wales' Royal Foundation. After leaving the royal household in 2021, he continues to serve on theboard of trusteesfor Prince William’s Earthshot Prize.

Prince William and Kate Middleton with their children at Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Samir Hussein/WireImage

In his new interview, Knauf also spoke about Prince Williamlearning of his father King Charles and his wife Princess Kate’s cancer diagnoseswithin weeks of each other as well asWilliam’s ongoing rift with his brother, Prince Harry.

source: people.com