Nov 13, 2009, 11:13 GMT
Britain's Sarah Ferguson was at the centre of an "error of protocol" as she sat at the top table during a charity ball.
The Duchess of York enjoyed a privileged spot next to longtime pal and organiser of the £1,000-a-head Royal Rajasthan Charity Gala in London's Whitehall, Maharaja of Jodhpur, Gaj Singh II, with Princess Michael of Kent placed at another table.
However, according to royal protocol, the princess - whose husband Prince Michael is Queen Elizabeth II's cousin- should have been seated with the host.
An embarrassed official reportedly approached the Maharaja and whispered about "a problem", prompting him to move to sit with the princess, while Sarah also changed seats.
An onlooker told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper: "No one could quite believe it. Everyone thought it was ridiculous. Fergie was having a good old gossip with the Maharajah, whom she has known for years because he was a long-time chum of her parents, Major Ronald Ferguson and Mrs. Susan Barrantes."
The princess, however, said she had no objection to the pre-arranged seating plan.
Her assistant private secretary Anna Parkinson said: "Princess Michael did not object to the seating plan and sat where she had been placed, according to the pre-agreed brief. In fact, the Maharaja of Jodhpur came to sit next to Princess Michael during the dinner as they are old friends.
"We are not aware of any change of seating by Sarah, Duchess of York, and certainly not because of anything said by Princess Michael.'"
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